The music of this song says alot about its theme, as well. The theme behind this song is how the consequences of your inactions or choices, however small they may seem at first, can build up, more and more and more until they overwhelm and overtake you and your life.
The song starts out with a simple guitar playing a few chords, seemingly quiet and innocent. Then throughout the song, the music builds up and builds up, louder and louder; much like how a tidal wave starts out tiny and builds to an overwhelming destructive monster. That one time you didn't talk to your lonely friend (and he ends up committing suicide), or you decided to try drugs just once (and you end up spiraling down into a deep and painful addiction), or you miss class once (and end up doing it habitually, destroying your college career)? These kind of moments are what Oleander's "Runaway Train" are all about - how these seemingly tiny and innoculous choices you make can set off a tidal wave that will slowly but surely overwhelm you and your life, leaving you wondering where you went wrong and how you can ever go back.
Just listen to the song - not the lyrics, just the music. Quiet and unassuming at first, and it ends up becoming a loud, wailing monster towards the end. I'm surprised there haven't been more comments on this song.
The music of this song says alot about its theme, as well. The theme behind this song is how the consequences of your inactions or choices, however small they may seem at first, can build up, more and more and more until they overwhelm and overtake you and your life.
The song starts out with a simple guitar playing a few chords, seemingly quiet and innocent. Then throughout the song, the music builds up and builds up, louder and louder; much like how a tidal wave starts out tiny and builds to an overwhelming destructive monster. That one time you didn't talk to your lonely friend (and he ends up committing suicide), or you decided to try drugs just once (and you end up spiraling down into a deep and painful addiction), or you miss class once (and end up doing it habitually, destroying your college career)? These kind of moments are what Oleander's "Runaway Train" are all about - how these seemingly tiny and innoculous choices you make can set off a tidal wave that will slowly but surely overwhelm you and your life, leaving you wondering where you went wrong and how you can ever go back.
Just listen to the song - not the lyrics, just the music. Quiet and unassuming at first, and it ends up becoming a loud, wailing monster towards the end. I'm surprised there haven't been more comments on this song.