Thurles Information

“Runaway Train”

The message in the lyrics of the song “Runaway Train”, composed by Soul Asylum’s lead singer Dave Pirner and released in May 1993 (featured hereunder), highlights the feelings of severe depression. It also reminds both young and old individuals that our real world is not all a bed of roses. It also, importantly, highlights that we are not fully alone.
Few realise that the video and lyrics would later become more than just music industry entertainment: it would literally save lives.

Tony Kaye has on many occasions recalled what inspired his video of this song “Runaway Train”.
He states that he was on his way home in Los Angeles, when an idea first struck him, having observed a poster by the road side. The poster was of a milk carton with a missing kid’s face etched on the side. He decided to use the faces of missing children in his “Runaway Train” video.

The National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children sent him the photos, and Music Television (MTV) the American cable television channel aired it with a message urging people to call, if they had seen any of the faces of those featured, then declared missing.

At first, the record company worried as no children had returned, but soon one child did and then came another, followed by another and another. The first located was Elizabeth Wiles, a runaway teenager who recognized herself in the video and reached out once again to her family.

Sadly not every story ended happily as some children had died, but each time one was found, the video was again updated with a new missing child’s face added.
In total, 21 of the 36 kids featured were actually located.

“Runaway Train”

Vocals: Grammy Award winning American rock band “Soul Asylum”.
Lyrics: Soul Asylum‘s lead singer, Dave Pirner.

“Runaway Train”

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 there.

Can 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 faded,
I 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 train,
And everything seems cut and dry.
Day and night,
Earth and sky,
Somehow I just don’t believe it.
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 there.

Bought 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 pain.
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 there.
Runaway 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.

END