Midnight Train
pineapple tours Lyrics
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dreaming of the mainland he's coming back for
he's had his heart broke, he's lost a friend,
and somewhere between here & the broken-down island
he got old; he's gonna spend the night alone
the city's cold, & the midnight train is all he knows
cityscapes, they pass him by, illuminate his thoughts
he's got his money, he's got his clothes,
but just like the rest of us, though, deep down, he's alone
he's getting old; he's gonna spend the night alone
the city's cold, & the midnight train is all he knows
so don't ask him nothing; it's classified
just count yourself lucky to be on the same train line
but you gotta go; pack your bag, get up and go
the city's cold, & the midnight train is going home
The lyrics of Pineapple Tours' song "Midnight Train" are a reflection on the isolation felt by a businessman in a grey suit, who is returning to the mainland after his heart has been broken and he has lost a friend. As the businessman looks out at the passing cityscapes, he is illuminated deeply in thought, dreaming of the shattered memories that he left behind. He has money and his clothes, yet deep down, he is alone. He is getting older and will spend the night alone, with the only comfort he knows being the midnight train, which takes him back home.
The song speaks to the loneliness and isolation that many people experience in life, despite superficial measures of material success. Money and clothing cannot compare to the deep human connection that is needed to fill the void in one's soul. Pineapple Tours speaks to the transient nature of life and how all of us must eventually confront the sadness and loneliness that inevitably arise.
The lyrics also hint at a sense of secrecy, with the businessman stating that his affairs are "classified" and that the listener should feel lucky to be on the same train line. This suggests that the businessman is harboring a deep sense of pain that he is not ready or willing to reveal to anyone else.
Line by Line Meaning
businessman in a grey suit, he's 34
There is a businessman, aged 34, wearing a grey suit.
dreaming of the mainland he's coming back for
The businessman is dreaming about returning to the mainland.
he's had his heart broke, he's lost a friend,
The businessman is heartbroken and has lost a friend.
and somewhere between here & the broken-down island
The businessman is on a train journey between a broken-down island and an unknown location.
he got old; he's gonna spend the night alone
The businessman has grown old and will be spending the night alone.
the city's cold, & the midnight train is all he knows
The businessman perceives the city to be cold and feels that the only option he has is to take the midnight train.
cityscapes, they pass him by, illuminate his thoughts
While traveling, the businessman is being illuminated by the cityscapes outside which makes him reflect on his thoughts.
dreaming of the memories he left shattered, in the dark
The businessman is dreaming about the broken memories that he left behind in the past.
he's got his money, he's got his clothes,
Even though the businessman has money and clothes, he still feels alone and lost.
but just like the rest of us, though, deep down, he's alone
The businessman is just like everyone else and is alone deep down within himself despite everything on the outside.
he's getting old; he's gonna spend the night alone
The businessman is becoming old and is dreading spending the night in solitude.
the city's cold, & the midnight train is all he knows
The businessman feels that the city is harsh and the only option left for him is to take the midnight train to where he needs to go.
so don't ask him nothing; it's classified
The businessman does not want to be asked anything and considers his situation confidential.
just count yourself lucky to be on the same train line
The other passengers should consider themselves lucky to be on the same train line as the businessman.
but you gotta go; pack your bag, get up and go
The other passengers are advised to leave the train and start a new journey.
the city's cold, & the midnight train is going home
The businessman is taking the midnight train back home, as he feels that the city is cold and unforgiving.
Contributed by Sydney I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.