Jumping Someone Else's Train

Yeah, getting on their train or fad or whatever and trying to impress everyone by dressing the "right" way, "saying you were there", name dropping, always changing who you are to brown-nose and impress people.

Especially relevant to high school, but surprisingly relevant in places like the business world in which lots of the population is trying to get ahead however they can or by playing games and kissing up however they can.

Some things never change.

im still in highschool and i deffinately see the conformity bit. but before i looked at the lyrics i always thought it was about suicide. you know like, jumping infront of a train that was meant for someone else..?

I think this is a brilliant song, because it's so simple. I think this song is mostly about conforming, and just trying to fit in. Because sometimes it's harder to be yourself than to conform and just be a sheep and do what everyone else does. I think the line "Don't say what you mean, you might spoil your face" refers to how speaking your real opinion when you are trying to fit in can completely ruin your newly established reputation as whatever you're trying to be. "If you walk in the crowd, you won't leave any trace" - I'm not quite sure what this means, but I think it might be a sarcastic statement saying that if you 'walk in the crowd' with everybody else then you won't be recognised as an individual. Which is quite ironic, seeing as though many people who choose to fake it and be part of a subculture just to be 'in' aren't seen as individuals, just as trend-followers. "It's always the same, you're jumping someone else's train" -I think this is pretty self-explanatory. Jumping someone else's train means cramping someone else's/a subculture's style, and following and imitating them. "It won't take you long to learn the new smile / You have to adapt,or you'll be out of style" - Some followers try so incredibly hard to fit in and want to belong so badly, that they'll do anything to fit in. And if you don't adapt to what's cool, you're a loser. If you pick up on it quick you can say you were there" - If you're one of those extremee followers always on the lookout for the next big trend, then you'll take a chance and 'adapt' quickly just so you can say you were part of the original creation of that trend. "It's the latest wave that you've been craving for, the old ideal was getting such a bore" - The followers eventually get bored of being 'cool' in their current trend, so they look for a new one, just for a lifestyle change. "Now you're back in line, going not quite quite as far but in half the time" - Not quite sure what this means. I think it might refer to being a new, but less popular trend, not being as 'cool' as before but still being a follower. "Everyone's happy, they're finally all the same / Because everyone's jumping everybody else's train" - Some people are happy as long as they fit in with everyone else. I don't mean to offend anyone with my interpretation. If you are an individual in a subculture, then good on you. But I think staying true to yourself is very important. A few people have mentioned conforming in high schools. I think this song really applies to that, too. Sorry if I've overanalysed. But this is a BRILLIANT SONG! The riff may be simple, but the words mean a lot.

I love this song!! Although it's meaning shouldn't be difficult to understand, I decided that since no one else has written anything, I should opine. It's basically about people conforming to the society (not a unfamiliar theme for the new wave/alternative genres of music.) When I hear it, i think of a teenager staying "hip," confronting to peers, and adapting on the modern fads, meanwhile loosing his/her own identity. The song is fast and has alot of added cool, percussion sounds - to imitate a train ride. I especially love the train sounds at the end and the nice bassline throughout - definately a great new wave song!!

Nick, I agree, the song is a critique about conformity, and doing what others think is cool. The sarcastic tone the lyrics are written in also convey the underlying message, staying true to yourself and being who you are.

Ithink about this song sometimes when others are holding back slapping speeches at meetings and such. It is a good thing to hold up towards others and yourself as well. One of the absolute 3 best on the album.

I always thought it was about jumping from bed to bed. But thats stupid. You guys have it right.

this is the best diss on scene wannabies "If you pick up on it quick You can say you were there" so funny

You haven't lived until you've listened to this song on the highway in the middle of a thunderstorm.

This song was about Robert Smith hating the resurgence of the mod movement I always thought.