So this has been.my favorite song of OTEP's since it came out in 2004, and I always thought it was a song about a child's narrative of suffering in an abusive Christian home. But now that I am revisiting the lyrics, I am seeing something totally new.
This song could be gospel of John but from the perspective of Jesus.
Jesus was NOT having a good time up to and during the crucifixion. Everyone in the known world at the time looked to him with fear, admiration or disgust and he was constantly being asked questions. He spoke in "verses, prophesies and curses". He had made an enemy of the state, and believed the world was increasingly wicked and fallen from grace, or that he was in the "mouth of madness".
The spine of atlas is the structure that allows the titan to hold the world up. Jesus challenged the state and in doing so became a celebrated resistance figure. It also made him public enemy #1.
All of this happened simply because he was doing his thing, not because of any agenda he had or strategy.
And then he gets scourged (storm of thorns)
There are some plot holes here but I think it's an interesting interpretation.
L.A. proved too much for the man
(Too much for the man, he couldn't make it)
So he's leavin' the life he's come to know, ooh
(He said he's goin')
He said he's goin' back to find
(Goin' back to find)
Ooh ooh ooh, what's left of his world
The world he left behind
Not so long ago
He's leavin' (leavin')
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leavin' on the midnight train)
Yeah, said he's goin' back
(Goin' back to find)
To a simpler place in time
(Whenever he takes that ride) oh yes he is
(Guess who's gonna be right by his side)
And I'll be with him (I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leavin' on the midnight train to Georgia)
I'd rather live in his world (live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(Her world is his, his and hers alone)
He kept dreamin' (dreamin')
Ooh, that someday he'd be a star
(A superstar, but he didn't get far)
But he sure found out the hard way
That dreams don't always come true
(Dreams don't always come true) oh no
(Uh uh) uh uh (no, uh uh)
So he pawned all his hopes (ooh ooh ooh)
And he even sold his old car (woo woo woo)
Bought a one way ticket back
To the life he once knew
Oh, yes, he did
He said he would
Oh, oh, he's leavin' (leavin')
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leavin' on the midnight train)
Yeah, said he's goin' back to find
(Goin' back to find)
Ooh, a simpler place in time
(Whenever he takes that ride) ooh
(Guess who's gonna be right by his side)
And I'm gonna be with him (I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leavin' on the midnight train to Georgia)
I'd rather live in his world (live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(Her world is his, his and hers alone)
Oh, he's leavin' (leavin')
On the midnight train to Georgia
(Leavin' on the midnight train)
Yeah, ooh, y'all
Said he's goin' back to find
(Goin' back to find)
Ooh, a simpler place in time
(Whenever he takes that ride) ooh
(Guess who's gonna be right by his side)
And I've got to be with him (I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leavin' on the midnight train to Georgia, ooh ooh)
I'd rather live in his world (live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(Her world is his, his and hers alone)
(For love) for love (gonna board) gonna board
The midnight train to ride
For love (for love) gonna board (gonna board)
Gotta board the midnight train to go
For love (for love) gonna board (gonna board)
The midnight train to go
My world (for love), his world (gonna board)
Our world (the midnight train to go) now I'm his alone
My world (for love), his world (gonna board)
Our world (the midnight train to go) now I'm his alone
I've got to go (for love), I've got to go (gonna board)
I've got to go (the midnight train to go) hey
I've got to go (for love), I've got to go (gonna board)
(The midnight train to go)
My world (for love), his world (gonna board)
My man (the midnight train to go) his girl
I've got to go (for love), I've got to go (gonna board)
(The midnight train to go) I've got to go
My world (for love), his world (gonna board)
Our world
(Too much for the man, he couldn't make it)
So he's leavin' the life he's come to know, ooh
(He said he's goin')
He said he's goin' back to find
(Goin' back to find)
Ooh ooh ooh, what's left of his world
The world he left behind
Not so long ago
He's leavin' (leavin')
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leavin' on the midnight train)
Yeah, said he's goin' back
(Goin' back to find)
To a simpler place in time
(Whenever he takes that ride) oh yes he is
(Guess who's gonna be right by his side)
And I'll be with him (I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leavin' on the midnight train to Georgia)
I'd rather live in his world (live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(Her world is his, his and hers alone)
He kept dreamin' (dreamin')
Ooh, that someday he'd be a star
(A superstar, but he didn't get far)
But he sure found out the hard way
That dreams don't always come true
(Dreams don't always come true) oh no
(Uh uh) uh uh (no, uh uh)
So he pawned all his hopes (ooh ooh ooh)
And he even sold his old car (woo woo woo)
Bought a one way ticket back
To the life he once knew
Oh, yes, he did
He said he would
Oh, oh, he's leavin' (leavin')
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leavin' on the midnight train)
Yeah, said he's goin' back to find
(Goin' back to find)
Ooh, a simpler place in time
(Whenever he takes that ride) ooh
(Guess who's gonna be right by his side)
And I'm gonna be with him (I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leavin' on the midnight train to Georgia)
I'd rather live in his world (live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(Her world is his, his and hers alone)
Oh, he's leavin' (leavin')
On the midnight train to Georgia
(Leavin' on the midnight train)
Yeah, ooh, y'all
Said he's goin' back to find
(Goin' back to find)
Ooh, a simpler place in time
(Whenever he takes that ride) ooh
(Guess who's gonna be right by his side)
And I've got to be with him (I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leavin' on the midnight train to Georgia, ooh ooh)
I'd rather live in his world (live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(Her world is his, his and hers alone)
(For love) for love (gonna board) gonna board
The midnight train to ride
For love (for love) gonna board (gonna board)
Gotta board the midnight train to go
For love (for love) gonna board (gonna board)
The midnight train to go
My world (for love), his world (gonna board)
Our world (the midnight train to go) now I'm his alone
My world (for love), his world (gonna board)
Our world (the midnight train to go) now I'm his alone
I've got to go (for love), I've got to go (gonna board)
I've got to go (the midnight train to go) hey
I've got to go (for love), I've got to go (gonna board)
(The midnight train to go)
My world (for love), his world (gonna board)
My man (the midnight train to go) his girl
I've got to go (for love), I've got to go (gonna board)
(The midnight train to go) I've got to go
My world (for love), his world (gonna board)
Our world
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"I'd rather live in his world than be without him in mine" - sums up the whole song beautifully! We make sacrifices to be with the one we love!
It means that nothing can take a girl away from her true love.
Have always adored this tune since I was a little girl, but I always took it literally....hopping a train to be with a loved one who lives in another state. I prefer your interpretation:)
As many times as I have heard this old song, I find it can still turn on the waterworks. It has a sad component--his failed dreams--but her reassuring and unhesitating move to go with him no matter what is so inspiring, and speaks to the meaning of true love. It's also a fun song (especially the ooh-ooh's) but something of a tearjerker if you let it.
Such a great song.
@dizdutch what about the lyrics do you find makes it so great??
The love train left the station and she wasn’t on it!