I found a picture of you, oh oh oh oh
What hijacked my world that night
To a place in the past
We've been cast out of? Oh oh oh oh
Now we're back in the fight
We're back on the train
Oh, back on the chain gang
A circumstance beyond our control, oh oh oh oh
The phone, the TV and the news of the world
Got in the house like a pigeon from hell, oh oh oh oh
Threw sand in our eyes and descended like flies
Put us back on the train
Oh, back on the chain gang
The powers that be
That force us to live like we do
Bring me to my knees
When I see what they've done to you
But I'll die as I stand here today
Knowing that deep in my heart
They'll fall to ruin one day
For making us part
I found a picture of you, oh oh oh oh
Those were the happiest days of my life
Like a break in the battle was your part, oh oh oh oh
In the wretched life of a lonely heart
Now we're back on the train
Oh, back on the chain gang
What hijacked my world that night
To a place in the past
We've been cast out of? Oh oh oh oh
Now we're back in the fight
We're back on the train
Oh, back on the chain gang
A circumstance beyond our control, oh oh oh oh
The phone, the TV and the news of the world
Got in the house like a pigeon from hell, oh oh oh oh
Threw sand in our eyes and descended like flies
Put us back on the train
Oh, back on the chain gang
The powers that be
That force us to live like we do
Bring me to my knees
When I see what they've done to you
But I'll die as I stand here today
Knowing that deep in my heart
They'll fall to ruin one day
For making us part
I found a picture of you, oh oh oh oh
Those were the happiest days of my life
Like a break in the battle was your part, oh oh oh oh
In the wretched life of a lonely heart
Now we're back on the train
Oh, back on the chain gang
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that force us to live like we do
bring me to my knees
when I see what they've done to you.
But I'll die as I stand her today
knowing that deep in my heart
they'll fall to ruin one day
for making us apart.
Exceptional lyrics. Beautiful song.
Anyway... Seems to me that the narrator is lamenting about the lack of freedom in her life or at least inability to do what it is that makes her happy. She's caught up in the drudgery life. And there's realization that most of the expectations/dreams she had for herself aren't panning out.
She’s felt this way for a while. But... In the past there was a special person that invigorated her. During the height of their passion she felt truly happy and, for a time, anything seemed possible - a renewed sense of freedom.
But, this could not be sustained. The romance didn’t last and, eventually, when the intensity/passion gave way she found herself again a slave to the unexciting/undesired realities of her life. Also, sounds like she believes her lover’s dreams were compromised as well and this is even more disheartening because she thought that person (her inspiration) could not be defeated.
Now that time has passed, when she looks back a picture of her past lover it brings back feelings – pureness and optimism. She wants to and is fighting to get back to that place again.
This song was their come back after that,cos they lost two key original members to overdosing before this.
"I'd shown it to James and he liked it. Then he died, and it turned into more of a tribute to him."
I always thought that the line was "Conformity and the the news of the world" not "The phone, the TV and the news of the world." The true lyrics make more sense.