Lyrics: Another Town, Another Train
Day is dawning and I must go You're asleep but still I'm sure you'll know Why it had to end this way You and I had a groovy time But I told you somewhere down the line You would have to find me gone I just have to move along Just another town, another train Waiting in the morning rain Lord give my restless soul a little patience Just another town, another train Nothing lost and nothing gained Guess I will spend my life in railway stations Guess I will spend my life in railway stations When you wake I know you'll cry And the words I wrote to say goodbye They won't comfort you at all But in time you will understand That the dreams we dreamed were made of sand For a no-good bum like me To live is to be free Just another town, another train Waiting in the morning rain Look in my restless soul, a little patience Just another town, another train Nothing lost and nothing gained Guess I will spend my life in railway stations Guess I will spend my life in railway stations [repeat and fade]
Finding Meaning in the Lyrics
Bittersweet Goodbyes and Restless Souls
“Another Town, Another Train” captures the poignant experience of leaving behind a cherished connection in pursuit of something indefinable—freedom, adventure, or perhaps escape. The narrator gently addresses a sleeping partner, acknowledging the inevitability of their parting and the pain it will cause. The phrase “I just have to move along” reveals a deep sense of restlessness and the inability to settle, even in the face of love and comfort.
Life in Transit
The recurring motif of trains and railway stations serves as a powerful metaphor for transience and impermanence. The lines “Just another town, another train / Nothing lost and nothing gained” underscore a life lived on the move, where attachments are fleeting and every departure is just another chapter. There’s a hint of resignation in the narrator’s voice, suggesting they’ve grown accustomed to this wandering lifestyle, accepting the loneliness and monotony it brings.
Dreams Made of Sand
One of the song’s most evocative lines—”the dreams we dreamed were made of sand”—speaks to the fragility of hopes and relationships built on unstable foundations. The narrator sees themselves as a “no-good bum,” resigned to a fate where true belonging is out of reach. Yet, there is also a sense of liberation: “To live is to be free.” Ultimately, the song balances longing and acceptance, highlighting the sacrifices made in pursuit of personal freedom.
Song Credits
Songwriters: Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus
Release Year: 1973
Label: Polar Music