So sad about James. Such a great talent. This could have been written about this despicable Tory Government.
James Varda – This Train Is Lost
James summarises a lot of what I feel particularly after these last couple of years.
This train – the whole of our corrupt culture – is certainly lost. We are being led by a lot of greedy, selfish hypocrites.
Back in the sixties we felt we were building something better. We were dropping out of this empty culture and replacing it with something less destructive and more meaningful.
This Train Is Lost
I’m going to move to another country
Find myself a new name
I’m going to wake up
And shed this skin
I never have felt at home
Anywhere I’ve been
I’m getting off this train
I ain’t gonna ride this train no more
How much is nothing?
How far is nowhere?
They’ll sell you a map
But you’ll never get there
I don’t know what I want
But I know it’s not this
If I pulled love out
The world would cease to exist
I’m getting off this train
I ain’t gonna ride this train no more
Well there’s no danger
Everything is very sure
You get up in the morning
And you walk out the door
All this repetition
That tries to strangle hope
I’m going to chart an unknown river
In a porcelain boat
I’m getting off this train
I ain’t gonna ride this train no more
This train is lost
James Varda – This Train Is Lost – a great Protest song.
When James Varda died we lost a truly unique voice, a craftsman in lyric and music, a poet, an individual who gave a new perspective to protest and Englishness. He was capable of songs of great power and lyrical beauty.
His first album – Hunger – had all the force and fury of punk in a folk setting. His future albums captured the pastoral beauty of the English countryside and his last album was so achingly beautiful it wrenched at the heart. As he was dying from a terminal illness he poured all his passion and love into producing a masterpiece – a coming to terms with death and a celebration of life and love.
This is a strong song from his first album – a swipe at the senseless, directionless carnage of our society.
James did not want to be part of this machine of destruction and pointless stupidity – neither do I.
This Train Is Lost
I’m gonna move to another country
I’m gonna find myself a new name
I’m gonna wake up
Shed this skin
Because I’ve never felt at home any place I’ve been
I’m getting off this train
Oh I ain’t gonna ride this train no more
Oh I ain’t gonna ride this train no more
How much is nothing?
How far is nowhere?
We’ll sell you a map
But you’ll never get there.
I don’t know what I want
But I know it’s not this
If I pulled love out
The world would cease to exist.
I’m getting off this train
Oh I ain’t gonna ride this train no more
Oh I ain’t gonna ride this train no more
Well there’s no danger
Everything is very sure
You wake up in the morning
And you walk out the door
All this repetition that tries to strangle hope
I’m going to chart an unknown river
In a porcelain boat
I’m getting off this train
Oh I ain’t gonna ride this train no more
Oh I ain’t gonna ride this train no more
I’m getting off this train
This train is lost