avail
“Train in Vain.”
you ever listen to that Clash song? it’s notable, shows those motherfuckers flexing those old pop-rock muscles. it wasn’t all political, that was just context. the Clash were a rock and roll band, first and foremost. and that is explained by the existence of certain songs, like “Train in Vain.”
he’s singing about getting dumped. it is very black and white, obviously, as these songs are usually in the narrator’s corner, and it hits on all the notes you’d want it to. indictments. love. hopelessness.
I keep on hearing thunder, but there’s no rain.
I don’t think anyone’s really got a song, no matter what they might say. unless they’re keeping it generic, specifically for us all, for mass consumption, it’s always the singer’s song. lyrics are specific things, and it’s hard to mold a song around your experiences, unless you’re dedicated to it, are willing to bend, to fit yourself to it. for you’ll always come to a verse, that doesn’t blend with your narrative, and you might throw up your hands in exasperation. because only a narcissist would claim a song all the way through. you can only do as well as you can do, and then share it with the next person. let them take from it what they want.
that’s the point of music, I think, or at least the rock and roll that I subscribe to. it pertains to me, but not only to me. and thank god for that, because I’m far from perfect and need to be reminded plenty. though sometimes, being reminded really blows.
with that said, “Train in Vain” is a good song. getting dumped sucks. and that’s a univeral theme right there. for it will feel like a kick in the stomach, every time.
