In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
When it's passing strange
And I'm waiting for the train
Caught up on this line again
And it's passing slowly
Killing time but it's better
Than living in what will come
And I've still got some
Of your letters with me
And I thought sometimes
Or I read too much and I think you know
Let's drink to the dead lying under the water
And the cost of the blood on the driven snow
And the lipstick on my cigarettes
Frost upon the window pane
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
She said, "Do you remember a time when angels?
Do you remember a time when fear
In the days when I was stronger
In the days when you were here"
She said, "When days had no beginning
While days had no end when shadows grew no longer
I knew no other friend but you were wild"
You were wild
Frost upon these cigarettes
Lipstick on the window pane
And I've lost all sense of the world outside
But I can't forget so I call your name
And I'm looking for a life for me
And I'm looking for a life for you
And I'm talking to myself again
And it's so damn cold it's just not true
And I'm walking through the rain
Trying to hold on waiting for the train
And I'm only looking for what you want
But it's lonely here and I think you knew
And I'm, and I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
And I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
And I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
I'm waiting for the train
And I'm waiting for the train
Caught up on this line again
And it's passing slowly
Killing time but it's better
Than living in what will come
And I've still got some
Of your letters with me
And I thought sometimes
Or I read too much and I think you know
Let's drink to the dead lying under the water
And the cost of the blood on the driven snow
And the lipstick on my cigarettes
Frost upon the window pane
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
She said, "Do you remember a time when angels?
Do you remember a time when fear
In the days when I was stronger
In the days when you were here"
She said, "When days had no beginning
While days had no end when shadows grew no longer
I knew no other friend but you were wild"
You were wild
Frost upon these cigarettes
Lipstick on the window pane
And I've lost all sense of the world outside
But I can't forget so I call your name
And I'm looking for a life for me
And I'm looking for a life for you
And I'm talking to myself again
And it's so damn cold it's just not true
And I'm walking through the rain
Trying to hold on waiting for the train
And I'm only looking for what you want
But it's lonely here and I think you knew
And I'm, and I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
And I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
And I'm waiting for the train
And I'm waiting
And I wait in vain
Nine while nine
I'm waiting for the train
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
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"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Love the song, not really sure what it means, however the line "Lipstick on my cigarrette" appears in Driven Like the Snow as well.
I think the train in this song signifies an escape from the pain of his heartbreak that is not forthcoming - it could be interpretted as suicide, literally travel, a new lover or even just a sense of closure.
Or even her to turn up... 'and I wait in vain'
Drug references? In a Sisters song? NO WAY!!!!! LOL
Some of the most beautiful lyrics ever written. I think that he is contemplating suicide over the loss of a lover.
"it's Better than living in what will come and I've Still got some of your letters with me and I Thought sometimes or I read too much And I think you know let's Drink to the dead lying under the water and the Cost of the blood on the driven snow"
I think he's desperately searching for a way to make his relationship work, and if he doesn't find it, he'll throw himself in front of the train.
"I'm Looking for a life for me and I'm Looking for a life for you and I'm Talking to myself again and it's So damn cold it's just not true and I'm Walking through the rain Trying to hold on waiting for the train and I'm Only looking for what you want but it's Lonely here and I think you knew"
Pretty literal, I know, but I've been there!
Frost upon these cigarettes Lipstick on the window pane and I've Lost all sense of the world outside but I Can't forget so I call your name and I'm Looking for a life for me and I'm Looking for a life for you and I'm Talking to myself again and it's So damn cold it's just not true and I'm Walking through the rain Trying to hold on waiting for the train and I'm Only looking for what you want but it's Lonely here and I think you knew and I'm And I'm waiting And I wait in vain Nine while nine and I'm waiting For the train.
Thats poetry, first song of Sisters Of Mercy i heard, no wonder i got stuck. :D
I seem to recall that "nine while nine" is a regional slang term meaning 9am till 9pm or similar.
i really think this is about a friend of his that died.. adn he's trying to make sense of it all and moving on with his life..
..but there's always still that frustration
vigilant is correct, "while" is basically a synonym for "until" in certain parts of England.
This song is (and I need a synonym of my own pretty badly here) apparently (how many times have I typed that?) about Eldritch's One True Love (TM) Claire - their relationship forms the basis of several Sisters songs.
The real question is not whether we should be glad that their relationship ended in a heartbreaking way and provided the world with a few great songs because of it, but whether SHE CHUCKED YOU or YOU CHUCKED HER, Andy! Go on, tell us!
Vigilant/The Knave - Eldritch studied in Leeds - northern england, some of my freinds from that area say "while" ti mean "until".
A truly remarkable song full of emotion - the lyrics are poetic, and the way they are sung takes them to another level.
For me - i think its about the anguish felt in his volatile relationship. "caught up on this line again" - sounds like he has been "there" before, devastating pain after a argument/break up. I wonder if the line is a reference to two things - this as well - he used "line" to refer to drugs in songs like 1959 and Amphetamine Logic ?
I agree with JAS. Abandonment. Waiting and waiting for her to comeback, but she never does.
Absolutely amazing track. Have never tired of it which is quite rare for me! Think the train and line references are actually transport related and not drug metaphors. You lot are too clever for your own good. He's killing time waiting for his train, by torturing himself with thoughts of a lost relationship. He's almost torturing himself with the pain but has to hold on to it because that's better that the thought of losing that feeling which is the final end of the relationship.
Killing time but it's Better than living in what will come and I've Still got some of your letters with me
Or perhaps he's just concerned with the on-board catering facilities on the Northern Main Line. Not very goth though is it.......