“Train in Vain”
by The Clash
from the album London Calling
1979 CBS
Buy the album on Amazon
This is one of those karaoke songs I sing just for myself. No one else has ever come up and been like “YEAH!” In fact I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say anything after this goes down. It just goes quietly into the night and that’s totally fine.
The first time I heard “Train in Vain” was in my friend Seedless’ car.
We drove around all night listening to this song on repeat, which at the time meant playing the cassette, rewinding it and playing it again. I’m pretty sure the only reason I was there was to cue the song continuously for the next few hours.
Seedless was going through some stuff man. The girl he loved totally spurned him and left him all alone. I’m pretty sure they weren’t actually dating so there was no way she could really leave him, but she left him. So we drove around that town in circles. Listening to “Train in Vain” over and over again, stopping only for gas, Clearly Canadian seltzer and potato wedges.
Maybe I don’t sing this song just for myself after all. I sing it for Seedless and the rest of us who were tossed aside. And I sing it for the Minit Mart’s potato wedges.
HOLY CRAP – They’re making Clearly Canadian again!
I knew the song once I listened to it, but I’ve never been into The Clash, so I didn’t know it by name, and because of that, you’re absolutely right that this is one that I enjoy you singing in a broad sense of just enjoying you sing, but no connection beyond that. But that’s the power of music. A song may mean nothing to anyone else, but goddamn if it doesn’t conjure something for someone and bring all those memories rushing back like they happened yesterday.
Sort of like you mentioning Clearly Canadian. Fine, I don’t have specific memories of it, but I did like it and it’s definitely from this time period, so the news makes me happy nonetheless.