Monday, December 31, 2007

Born on a Train :: Magnetic Fields

I blundered across Magnetic Fields one day last summer, and I was instantly hooked.

This is a song about someone who just can't... stay put? I don't know. Maybe it's about someone who's never really satisfied. One thing I love about Magnetic Fields songs is that they don't sugar-coat anything. People are shitty to each other. People hurt each other, people are vicious. Sometimes things aren't equal or even. And sometimes love isn't good, it's just shitty and hurtful. So, is that love at all? I dunno.

Favorite lines:

And I've been making promises I know I'll never keep-
One of these days, I'm gonna leave you in your sleep.
--------
I know that you were never young,
And I know you probably won't get old.
But honey, nobody's gonna hurt you anymore.
And nobody's gonna make you wanna die.





Some roads are only seen at night.
Ghost roads, nothing but neon signs.
But some nights the neon gas gets free-
Turns into walking dead like me.

And I've been makin' promises I know I'll never keep.
One of these days I'm gonna leave you in your sleep.
I have to go when the whistle blows-
The whistle knows my name.
Baby, I was born on a train.

I know that you were never young,
And I know you probably won't get old.
But honey, nobody's gonna hurt you anymore.
And nobody's gonna make you wanna die.

But I've been makin' promises I know I'll never keep.
One of these days I'm gonna leave you in your sleep.
I have to go when the whistle blows-
The whistle knows my name.
Baby, I was born on a train.

I'll go one cold and gray morning.
And you won't remember anything.
But some people don't believe in time.
And some of us don't believe in life.

But I've been makin' promises I know I'll never keep.
One of these days I'm gonna leave you in your sleep.
I have to go when the whistle blows-
The whistle knows my name.
Baby, I was born on a train...

Baby, I was born on a train...

1 comment:

Kim - Affairs of Living said...

you know, i have been meaning to listen to the magnetic fields, so this was a good teaser. yes, i love this song. so how about this: your magnetic fields cds for my beirut cds? :)