What's Inside

The theological ramblings of a simple man.

Wisdom

Because God is never cruel, there is a reason for all things. We must know the pain of loss; because if we never knew it, we would have no compassion for others, and we would become monsters of self-regard, creatures of unalloyed self-interest. The terrible pain of loss teaches humility to our prideful kind, has the power to soften uncaring hearts, to make a better person of a good one.

Dean Koontz

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Love God, Love others...
Take time to listen

311
Ben Folds
The Beatles
Blindside
Bob Marley
Coldplay
Collective Soul
David Crowder Band
Delirious?
Fold Zandura
Hillsong United
Jars of Clay
Jeremy Camp
Keith Green
Kutless
Linkin Park
MG! The Visionary
MxPx
Newsboys
Pearl Jam
Pedro the Lion
Pigeon John
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Spoken
Steve Taylor
Switchfoot
Thousand Foot Krutch
TobyMac
U2
Victor Wooten
Weezer
The Who
Wyclef Jean

Learn, Live, Love, Laugh

Rob Bell
C.S. Lewis
Erwin McManus
Frank Peretti

Home

Lake City Community Church Coeur d'Alene
Real Life on the Palouse Moscow/Pullman
Time Zone Boise
Agape Christian Worship Center Boise
River of Life Community Church Sioux Falls
Marysville Church of the Nazarene Marysville

Get Involved

Friday, August 25, 2006

train song

There is a song I've been listening to while in route to and from work. It is one of those songs that once you hear it, it is impossible to forget. Train Song by this guy from Texas named Listener. There is a lot I could say about this powerful song, but... I'd rather let you read it and ponder. If you want to hear it, there is a live version on Listener's myspace page and it is also the song on my myspace profile.

I was alone and my train was late that night
I saw a crumpled man blinded by the life that he treated himself to
Crippled from the nights receiving endless beatings that even a house couldn’t endure
Palm raised skyward, his meager belongings collected on the floor
Singing songs to no one about nothing, but crying because they mean so much
It’s these babblings that keep his life going, keep the nickels flowing deep into his cup
There we both were framed in awkward silence, and I was in his living room invading his trust
He finally said to me that he had one last cigarette to smoke and it was time to give it up
But he laughed and added he wasn’t sure which to give up his life or the habit
He said it’s my habits that made my fingers weak, when my chances came I couldn’t grab it
But it’s my life that made it hard and when my opportunities were there for free I chose my habits
I half smiled and offered the most empathetic nod that I could conjure up and said
I hear you brother I’ve got problems too but words won’t fill your cup
I’ve got responsibilities to face and they’re woven tight to my dreams
I’ve got more bills to pay than I have time and I’m starting to rip at the seems
I’ve got a plan and I know that if I stick to it I can accomplish happiness
I’ve got goals that beat my will and lately it’s been hard to accept the challenge

And he said: man, that’s God talking to you, and I don’t know why you can’t see
You’re so blind that you can’t spare to make change because all your focus is on “ME”
All wrapped up in your own skin that you can’t help set an old man free
I’ve been in your shoes before it feels like it was yesterday if not at all
My existence has been a blink and for the life of me I can’t remember what I saw

That made so much sense to me even though I convinced myself that he was totally insane
I bent over and lit his cigarette and told him to mind his own business
Because I was just waiting for my train
He said I’ve been waiting here forever just dying in my skin
And the only reason you’re living life is because you’re curious what’ll happen in the end
That might be true but why should I pay my hard earned attention to vagabond doctrine
If you’ve got so much knowledge to give why not treat yourself to what you’re offering
You probably have lived a hard life, and I apologize
But I have my own problems that you couldn’t understand just like a lot of guys
Now here’s a couple bucks, go buy yourself whatever makes you happy
Even though I’ve promised myself to never pay for you to make my city look trashy
He refused my money and sat there singing songs of love and hate
I crammed the change in my pocket, called him a lunatic and went on with my wait
As I stood there hovering near his tiny frame I could feel his eyes judging me sadly
It’s as if he had to convince me that my life was on the wrong track and I needed it badly
I said hey old man your cigarettes are all smoked up it’s time for you to leave
He looked at the trail of ash on his shirt and smiled as if it gave him some sort of relief
He propped himself up, collected his life and got prepared to become one with the night
He turned around and wished me luck with all my plans, and said something about learning to walk before I ran
Before I knew it he was out of my sight, and I had all ready forgotten his reasoning
I could hear my train coming and home was on my mind not his cryptic meanings
Another traveler was on the platform and for some reason he was running towards me
All I could see was his eyes, but it’s his words that will always stick with me
Through his heavy breaths he asked if I had just spent time with the old man
I nodded in affirmation and tried to calm him so he could tell me why he ran

He said: man, that was God talking to you, how could you not see
That was God talking right to your face trying to hand you the keys
He was right here and I can’t understand why you chose to make him leave
He just died in my arms right outside the station and said you were his only friend
He begged me to tell you about his life, make you see the light, give you a chance again

I cringed at the reality that was facing me
I told the man I had no time for this and on my way I had to be
Right about that time my train pulled up and I made my escape
I sat in the empty plastic seat and held tight to my fate
That was decades ago, and now I sit singing on my own platform
My belongings stowed tightly in my bags, handing out my sad, sad songs
And I say it’s my habits that make my fingers weak, when my chances come I can’t grab them
But it’s my life that makes it hard and when my opportunities are there for free I choose my habits
I have no responsibilities and as a result I no longer need my dreams
I don’t have any bills to pay, it’s like I’m free but I’m really in captivity
I don’t have any plans except to just sit here and try and weather the storm
I wish I had goals but if I had those then I wouldn’t be here warning you on my platform
Singing train songs

posted by nic @ 2:44 PM

3 Comments:

At 12:56 PM, September 21, 2008, Kendra said…

Wow! I'm glad my curiosity was tugged at by the title of this post- I adore the lyrics; now I have to search Limewire and see if I can find it.
Beautiful find, Nic.
At 2:18 AM, January 13, 2013, Anonymous said…

[url=http://www.onlinecasinos.gd]online casino[/url], also known as key casinos or Internet casinos, are online versions of method ("chunk and mortar") casinos. Online casinos own gamblers to ‚lite up and wager on casino games because of the Internet.
Online casinos customarily put up respecting calling odds and payback percentages that are comparable to land-based casinos. Some online casinos exhort on higher payback percentages as a formula looking in espouse of put up gismo games, and some cut back wide known payout force audits on their websites. Assuming that the online casino is using an correctly programmed indefinitely innumerable generator, proffer games like blackjack preoccupy an established bar edge. The payout slice during these games are established below the aegis the rules of the game.
Assorted online casinos sublease cache or acquire their software from companies like Microgaming, Realtime Gaming, Playtech, Intercontinental Deception Technology and CryptoLogic Inc.
At 6:06 AM, February 04, 2013, Anonymous said…

top [url=http://www.xgambling.org/]online casino[/url] coincide the latest [url=http://www.realcazinoz.com/]casino[/url] unshackled no store bonus at the chief [url=http://www.baywatchcasino.com/]online casinos
[/url].