Here's an early 90s radio staple with which you're likely familiar but just as likely haven't heard in a while. We saw these guys live outside of Heinz Field in Pittsburgh a couple summers ago. I forget what event it was, exactly, but it wasn't half bad. We didn't really know much of their catalogue other than this one, but for a free show where you just chill and chat with friends and half listen, it worked pretty well.
The meaning of the song could be interpreted many ways, but the general concept is that life has begun moving faster than the singer can handle in a direction he's not sure he wants to go. Working in the railroad industry, I love a good train metaphor, so there you go.
"bought a ticket for a runaway train like a madman laughing at the rain little out of touch, little insane it's just easier than dealing with the pain..."
I'm not a huge NIN fan, in fact I can't say I've ever actively listened to most of their works. However, this song is pretty powerful and gripping. Some say it's about Trent Reznor's addiction to drugs, others say it's about suicide, others still have differing opinions... guess it shows that art is in the eye of the beholder. No matter how it was originally written, we can all relate to the self-destructive tendencies expressed in the song. We all make choices in life that we regret or that end up ending poorly for us. We all hurt the people we care about. Life is all about getting through this and finding a way to carry on. Reznor does seem to realize that there is more to life than what he's been doing, although the song doesn't delve into finding fulfillment but leaves you with the feeling that he thinks it's too late or that redemption is impossible...
The live music video with Reznor on keys is stunning; I've included the studio recording as well.
Maybe it's because I did a harder song yesterday, or maybe just because I heard it this afternoon on my drive home, but you're getting some classic Nirvana tonight. Some people think this song is the best song ever; some think it's a "sellout" song or simply not Nirvana's best work (read the comments on songmeanings.net to see what I mean). I think it's a pretty good song, particularly for a couple of specific lines, and the message that sometimes the "cool" thing to do isn't the right thing to do. The memorable line (below) is a pretty telling social commentary...
