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This Train Will Be Taking No Passengers Lyrics
We will adjust to this new condition of living like a man with his entrails now out him not in
After certain techniques of torture accustoms himself to a new condition of living...train.
Thoughtful godless men find god in them at the age of twenty-five
but in a year death gains favor and they think themselves the more alive,
You'll find them in the loose caboose where the pills are kept and the stupid juice,
This one has a sleeping wheel, this one has a willing noose
- Onward and on to the ends of love, pricked vanity, habit and ruse.
Onward and on to a premature silence where death finds too much use.
Fifteen year old whores in training, eyes a'batting, arms a'flailing, skin aflame, this fire-fanning express,
If you're on board amazement follows fear and rounded by dismay
it takes the corner into the day after today which is a father's sorrow
- Onward and on to the ends of meanness where kindness is the means of the earth.
Onward and on, awakening finds us too sensual beings from birth -
("I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry lady, I am sorry, I'm sorry lady...I'm sorry")...train.
Pods of wealthy blonde gobbets with red-rind eyes
getting pecked at by the heroin sparrows of the western skies,
It may be married to the tracks but this train flies and it's taking no passengers.
"We'll stand on his hand, that's how you pin your man, we'll smash him from Preston to Epworth!"
Onward and on to the ends of reason where malice is the means of the earth.
Onward and on, this strange-wrought bird, onwards and over the black coffee earth,
Onward and on, this laughing train to the ends of its low, low mirth...
Where the media make it with the media whores,
Lady Time minces man-meat with her contract claws
for a barbecue with the veterans of the talkback wars
in the outback palace...of one John Laws.
O we will adjust to this new condition of living
like a sailor with his hands tied behind his back
imprisoned after sailing into foreign waters, unawares,
accustoms himself to a new condition of living.
But a shadow falls between this hurtling intent and its realisation
for its government is rotten and therefore its civilisation
which is certainly taking no passengers...train...
After certain techniques of torture accustoms himself to a new condition of living...train.
Thoughtful godless men find god in them at the age of twenty-five
but in a year death gains favor and they think themselves the more alive,
You'll find them in the loose caboose where the pills are kept and the stupid juice,
This one has a sleeping wheel, this one has a willing noose
- Onward and on to the ends of love, pricked vanity, habit and ruse.
Onward and on to a premature silence where death finds too much use.
If you're on board amazement follows fear and rounded by dismay
it takes the corner into the day after today which is a father's sorrow
- Onward and on to the ends of meanness where kindness is the means of the earth.
Onward and on, awakening finds us too sensual beings from birth -
("I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry lady, I am sorry, I'm sorry lady...I'm sorry")...train.
getting pecked at by the heroin sparrows of the western skies,
It may be married to the tracks but this train flies and it's taking no passengers.
"We'll stand on his hand, that's how you pin your man, we'll smash him from Preston to Epworth!"
Onward and on to the ends of reason where malice is the means of the earth.
Onward and on, this strange-wrought bird, onwards and over the black coffee earth,
Onward and on, this laughing train to the ends of its low, low mirth...
Lady Time minces man-meat with her contract claws
for a barbecue with the veterans of the talkback wars
in the outback palace...of one John Laws.
like a sailor with his hands tied behind his back
imprisoned after sailing into foreign waters, unawares,
accustoms himself to a new condition of living.
But a shadow falls between this hurtling intent and its realisation
for its government is rotten and therefore its civilisation
which is certainly taking no passengers...train...
Song Info
Submitted by
sha_sha On Apr 29, 2006
More Augie March
One Crowded Hour
There Is No Such Place
Asleep in Perfection
Pennywhistle
Owen's Lament
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Great song. Great analysis here
http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1387591
Basically we are all on a train to hell!
Train!!!!!!!!!!!
Onward and on, this laughing train to the ends of its low, low mirth...
This song is awsome.
This is a fantastic song, one of countless greats from Glenn and Augie March!
I agree with the analysis given in the link provided in the first post: The song essentially tracks the hurtling of the "train" of society into a moral-less abyss and civic "hell", push along by the variously bad actions of every individual. The catch at the end is very ture also: We think that we "hurtling towards hell", but it eventually dawns on us that we've already made it there, and that modern society is it.
What I particularly like about this song though is its specific references (both overt and subtle) to Australian society. In the last verses refering to John Laws, sailors with their hands tied and our "rotten government", the reference is clearly to immigrants (both legal and illegal) to Australia. But I think there are also many more subtle references to this theme in the song: Firstly, the title-line itself "this train will be taking no passengers", seems to be a metaphor for the "train" of Australia not taking any immigrants in to its borders (or at least being very fearful of doing so). It certainly has the meaning of a "non-stop, hurtling train", but I think it is meant as a double entendre.
Secondly, I also think the repeated line "We will adjust to this new condition of living" might have at least some reference to Assimilation policies in Australia? The idea that, when a refugee or immigrant arrives, they are forced to "adjust" to a new condition of living, to shed their old identity and adopt an "Australian" one.
Secondly, I also think the repeated line "We will adjust to this new condition of living" might have at least some reference to Assimilation policies in Australia? The idea that, when a refugee or immigrant arrives, they are forced to "adjust" to a new condition of living, to shed their old identity and adopt an "Australian" one.