SLS: Never Going Back

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This week’s mission for Song Lyric Sunday, as Jim tells us in his post One If By Land etc, is to play a song that includes a mode of transport, either going by land (road or rail), water, or air, at the suggestion of Di of pensitivity101. Ever my indecisive self I couldn’t choose between two of my favourites, so I’m playing both. One has been featured in SLS previously, the other hasn’t but has been in Tuesday Tunes three times, but they are both so good that they merit another airing. I expect you will be familiar with both, so come along with me for the ride.

This is my lead song for today. Not only is it a superb song, but while you watch the video think about runaway children who have been lost to their families. Many have been found as a result of this video and the publicity it generated, but sadly many others are still missing, as you can see from the comments if you watch it on YouTube:

And here are the lyrics:

Call you up in the middle of the night
Like a firefly without a light
You were there like a blowtorch burning
I was a key that could use a little turning
So tired that I couldn’t even sleep
So many secrets I couldn’t keep
Promised myself I wouldn’t weep
One more promise I couldn’t keep
It seems no one can help me now
I’m in too deep
There’s no way out
This time I have really lead myself astray
Runaway train never going back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I’m neither here nor thereCan you help me remember how to smile?
Make it somehow all seem worthwhile
How on earth did I get so jaded?
Life’s mysteries seem so fadedI can go where no one else can go
I know what no one else knows
Here I am, just drowning in the rain
With a ticket for a runaway trainAnd everything seems cut and dry
Day and night
Earth and sky
Somehow I just don’t believe itRunaway train never going back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I’m neither here nor thereBought a ticket for a runaway train
Like a madman laughing at the rain
A little out of touch, a little insane
It’s just easier than dealing with the painRunaway train never going back
Wrong way on a one-way track
Seems like I should be getting somewhere
Somehow I’m neither here nor thereRunaway train never coming back
Runaway train tearing up the track
Runaway train burning in my veins
I run away but it always seems the same

 

Source: azlyrics.com

Songwriter: Dave Pirner

Soul Asylum were formed in Minneapolis in 1981, and Runaway Train was their first big success. With all that is wrong in the world today, and especially after the murder of a woman in Minneapolis this week, this is a heartbreaking watch: it makes me so grateful for my family. This was the third track on Soul Asylum’s sixth album, Grave Dancers Union, which was released in October 1992 and became their first album to make the charts anywhere, ultimately peaking at #11 in the US and #27 in the UK. Runaway Train was released in June 1993 as the third single from the album, and was the main driver for the album’s success, getting to #5 in the US, #1 in Canada, and #7 in the UK, as well as making the top ten in many other countries. I used to play the album a lot during my long commute around the North Circular Road in London, and still bring it out occasionally now: this song is too good to ignore!

The video has done a lot towards drawing attention to the plight of runaway children, though these aren’t all success stories. if you want to know more I suggest Wikipedia’s page for the song. In sales terms this was huge: the album went 2x Platinum in the US and Canada, and Gold in the UK and several other countries. The single also went Double Platinum in the US and Canada, and Silver in the UK (though it outsold Canada). It also won the Grammy Award For Best Rock Song in 1994.

And here is today’s second tune, which I played in December 2024:

 

As I said before, this is the official video but it isn’t from the band’s own YouTube page, so it is a little bit grainy. The song is still magnificent, though:

And here are the lyrics

Got out of town on a boat goin’ to Southern Islands
Sailing a reach before a followin’ sea
She was makin’ for the trades on the outside
And the downhill run to Papeete
Off the wind on this heading lie the Marquesas
We got eighty feet of the waterline nicely making way
In a noisy bar in Avalon I tried to call you
But on a midnight watch I realized why twice you ran away
Think about
Think about how many times I have fallen
Spirits are using me, larger voices callin’
What Heaven brought you and me cannot be forgotten
Around the world (I have been around the world)
Lookin’ (lookin’ for that woman girl)
Who knows she knows (who knows love can endure)
And you know it will
When you see the Southern Cross for the first time
You understand now why you came this way
‘Cause the truth you might be runnin’ from is so small
But it’s as big as the promise, the promise of a comin’ day
So I’m sailing for tomorrow my dreams are a-dyin’
And my love is an anchor tied to you (tied with a silver chain)
I have my ship and all her flags are a-flyin’
She is all that I have left and music is her name
Think about
Think about how many times I have fallen
Spirits are using me, larger voices callin’
What Heaven brought you and me cannot be forgotten
I have been around the world (I have been around the world)
Lookin’ (lookin’ for that woman girl)
(Who knows love can endure)
And you know it will
And you know it will
So we cheated and we lied and we tested
And we never failed to fail it was the easiest thing to do
You will survive being bested
Somebody fine will come along make me forget about loving you
And the southern cross
Writer/s: Michael Curtis, Richard Curtis, Stephen Stills
Publisher: MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind
Southern Cross was included on Crosby Stills & Nash’s Daylight Again album, released in June 1982, and then came out as a single in September 1982. Stephen Stills sings lead throughout, with Graham Nash joining on the second verse. Because David Crosby did not reunite with Stephen and Graham until the album was well underway, his vocals are not featured on the album version, although he did appear in the video, as you will have seen, and subsequently sang it with them in live performances. The single did well in the charts, reaching #18 in the US, and is still their final hit in the US top 40. Amongst those providing backing vocals you may be able to make out Timothy B. Schmit of The Eagles hitting some high notes. The album made #8 in the US but didn’t make the UK charts, and neither did the single.
This one is based on a song by Rick and Michael Curtis, and on the liner notes for CSN, the band’s box set compilation, Stephen explained, “The Curtis Brothers brought a wonderful song called Seven League Boots, but it drifted around too much. I rewrote a new set of words and added a different chorus, a story about a long boat trip I took after my divorce. It’s about using the power of the universe to heal your wounds. Once again, I was given somebody’s gem and cut and polished it.”
I had the album, and also the aforementioned incredible 4CD box set CSN, which was released in September 1991. If you want their best in one package that’s the one to go for – it is a real career retrospective across the band’s work together, solo, and in other collaborations. Highly recommended.
There have been several cover versions of this song, notably by Jimmy Buffett, who has got to sing it in concert with Stephen and Graham guesting. His is a valiant effort, but it’s hard to see how anyone could improve on what, for me, is near perfection.
And that’s it for today. No apologies for the repeat: this second song is a real beauty and deserves to be heard whenever possible. As Stephen said, he cut and polished a gem. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day, and I’ll see you again for another Tuesday Tunes. Until then, stay safe and well – and warm! 😊

44 thoughts on “SLS: Never Going Back”

  1. Love both these songs. We still have the cassette tape of the Soul Asylum album and have played this song many times. Such a wonderful thing for them to do to help find lost children. Southern Cross is just a beautiful song I like a lot. 🙂

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  7. Oh Clive, you’ve undone me. In a fantastic way, she says, tears brimming in her eyes.

    Both of your choices hit some deeply sentimental memories for me—especially that second song, which as you say deserves as much airplay as it can possibly get.

    Thank you, thank you, thank you—one million times, thank you. Don’t you just love how music makes it all better?

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  9. Clive, I’m familiar with both of these tunes. Thank you for the PSA on the first, as runaways need all of the help they can get.

    Did not know that Crosby came late to the 2nd tune, which surprised me as he was the sailor of the bunch.

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  15. om Petty has a great song called “Runaway Trains” from his very under-rated “Let Me Up (I’ve Had Enough)” album…I shared a post about that CSN album as well…Crosby was in bad shape at the time – you note he joined the recording of it late –

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  16. Runaway Train is a real heartbreaker and, as you said, it makes me so grateful for my family. Young people shouldn’t have to be afraid to walk to school or to a friend’s house. We used to worry about our kids, but never because of the chance someone might snatch them off the street. It’s terrifying.
    CS&N never disappoint …. some of the best harmonies (along with Simon & Garfunkel). Southern Cross is a beauty to the ear and the eye.
    Thank you for both songs, Clive. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

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