Video

Lyrics

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 led 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 mystery seems 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
Runaway but it always seems the same

Trivia

• Its video helped reunite several children with their families.
• Its video was localized for several countries other than the US, showing 13 missing children thoughout each different version.
• Its video was produced by Roger Hunt and directed by Tony Kaye, who also directed the movie American History X.
• Its video featured an extended beginning and ending in which Dave urged people to help find the missing children shown, but this was not always aired.
• Was released in 1992 but won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song as late as 1994.
• Is sometimes mistaken for the song Runaway Trains by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
• Was originally titled "Two Souls" with lyrics along the lines of, "Two souls laughing in the rain, one is crazy and the other's insane.

Appearances

• On After the Flood.
• On the compilation Black Gold: The Best of Soul Asylum.
• On the Can't Even Tell single.
• On the compilation Casey Kasem Presents America's Top Ten.
• On the album Grave Dancers Union.
• On I Will Still Be Laughing +8.
• On Insomniac's Dream.
• On the compilation Playlist: The Very Best of Soul Asylum.
• On Radio Sampler.
• On the Runaway Train single.
• On Runaway Train.
• On the Somebody To Shove single.
• On the compilation Super Hits.
• On the compilation The Buzz.
• On The Candy Sampler.
• On the compilation Ultimate Grammy Collection.