The meaning of this song is pretty straightforward, so I just want to clarify where the title "Train in Vain" comes from. Viv Albertine, Mick's ex-girlfriend (who this song is about), actually explained it in an interview: "He used to get the train to my place in Shepherds Bush and I would not let him in. He was bleating on the doorstep." Mick takes the train, begs to be let in, and is rejected -- hence, "train in vain." The music was then written to reflect the sound of a chugging train. Pretty clever title.
The meaning of this song is pretty straightforward, so I just want to clarify where the title "Train in Vain" comes from. Viv Albertine, Mick's ex-girlfriend (who this song is about), actually explained it in an interview: "He used to get the train to my place in Shepherds Bush and I would not let him in. He was bleating on the doorstep." Mick takes the train, begs to be let in, and is rejected -- hence, "train in vain." The music was then written to reflect the sound of a chugging train. Pretty clever title.