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My Gen X Playlist: Train in Vain – The Clash

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Daily writing prompt
What are three objects you couldn’t live without?
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Practically speaking, the three objects I need are my glasses, my phone and my car.

The reason for my glasses (or contacts) is obvious. I need to be able to see. I should probably look at my phone less and give my eyes a rest. That’s a tough one to follow.

That leads to my phone. I remember when my phone was mainly used for calls and emails. That’s now moved to the bottom of the list. Internet, apps, social media and texts are now my main use. How quickly things change.

Lastly, my car. Unfortunately, to be able to survive in Southern California, a car is a necessity. I do enjoy driving, but if we had a better train system here, I’d gladly use that instead. I remember living abroad without a car. Totally doable because the train and subway systems were great. I read a lot more, enjoyed music everyday and increased my step count significantly walking in between. What’s not to like about trains? C’mon LA, get with the program.

My favorite Clash song is Train in Vain. Like everyone else, I initially thought the song was called Stand by Me, but the Clash didn’t want any confusion with other songs.

Despite the title, the words “train in vain” don’t appear in this song. The predominant lyric is “stand by me,” but that’s the title of a famous song by Ben E. King. 

The title of The Clash song comes from the train rhythm in the song combined with the theme of being lost. It’s also a reference to Tammy Wynette’s 1975 hit single “Stand By Your Man” (“you say you stand, by your man, tell me something, I don’t understand”).

– Songfacts

Waiting for a reliable, widespread train system in Southern California is definitely in vain. Until that miracle happens, I’ll be spending more time in Los Angeles traffic. Good thing I have my playlist to keep me company.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

Say you stand by your man
Tell me something I don't understand
You said you love me and that's a fact
Then you left me, said you felt trapped

Well some things you can explain away
But my heartache's in me till this day

[Chorus]
Did you stand by me
No, not at all
Did you stand by me
No way

All the times
When we were close
I'll remember these things the most
I see all my dreams come tumbling down
I won't be happy without you around

So all alone I keep the wolves at bay
There is only one thing that I can say

[Chorus]

You must explain why this must be
Did you lie when you spoke to me

Did you stand by me
No, not at all

Now I got a job
But it don't pay
I need new clothes
I need somewhere to stay
But without all these things I can do
But without your love I won't make it through

But you don't understand my point of view
I suppose there's nothing I can do

[Chorus]

You must explain why this must be
Did you lie when you spoke to me?

Did you stand by me
Did you stand by me
No, not at all
Did you stand by me
No way
Did you stand by me
No, not at all
Did you stand by me
No way

20 thoughts on “My Gen X Playlist: Train in Vain – The Clash”

  1. Great song! By the way, the Clash make a brief appearance in One Love, when Bob Marley goes into a club in London and they’re playing. I think it’s the only non-Marley music in the whole movie.

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  2. The bus system here is… okay. I’d totally use it if I didn’t have to walk a mile to get to the nearest bus stop. Once there though it’ll take me to wherever I want to go.

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      1. Yep, which is why I don’t take the bus. ^_^ They have a commuter line that comes by a block from me but that’s at like twice a day. That’s it.

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  3. A quintessential 1980s song! Love it.

    And I love trains, too; combined with buses, the only sensible way to get around big cities and in between them in the UK and Europe. Passenger train service hasn’t been much on the radar in Canada since it was gutted in the 1970s.

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  7. Yeah.. we Californians don’t seem to want to get around on buses or trains. It’s funny, people are generally active here. You see bikers and runners and walkers everywhere, but no one seems to be heading on foot to a store…

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  9. Pingback: My Gen X Playlist: London Calling – The Clash – MyGenXerLife

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