When you hear a hit single from a band that’s new to you, it’s natural to assume that they’re a brand-new act. And sometimes that’s the case. But in some cases, a band might have been toiling and struggling for a while before that one breakthrough song gave them their big exposure.
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In the case of Soul Asylum, some of that toil and struggle actually worked its way into the song that earned them their first hit single, six albums into their career. “Runaway Train”, released in 1993, made them an overnight sensation, well after the bloom was off the rose of their career.
Struggling Soul
Many people associate the grunge movement with the 90s. But some of the biggest success stories of that era came from bands who had been playing emotionally potent, musically raw tunes even back into the 80s. Certainly, Soul Asylum, whose earliest incarnation reached back to 1981, fit that bill.
Forming in Minnesota, the band featured a four-piece lineup for most of their formative years. Dave Pirner, who sang lead, played rhythm guitar, and wrote the vast majority of their songs, led the way. At first, the band released some albums with an indie label before eventually graduating to A&M.
Even that step up didn’t do much for the band’s commercial prospects. On top of that, the years of blasting away on fuzzed-out guitars were starting to take their toll on Pirner’s hearing. Needless to say, that’s not a condition a musician can easily handle. Pirner entered into a state of depression about the scenario. Soul Asylum came to the verge of breaking up.
“Train” in the Distance
Fearing further hearing loss, Pirner began to get more acquainted with the acoustic guitar, especially while writing. He penned a batch of songs that grabbed the attention of Columbia, who signed them on and threw money at the band to record their next album, entitled Grave Dancers Union. “Runaway Train” was one of the songs in that batch.
The song reflected on the depression that Pirner had been feeling. With a bittersweet melody behind it, as well as Pirner’s impassioned vocals, “Runaway Train” became, fittingly, a runaway hit. All the years of anonymous struggle paid off for Soul Asylum to the tune of a no. 5 hit in the US.
Behind the Lyrics of “Runaway Train”
Pirner evokes his mental and emotional battle in “Runaway Train” with lived-in honesty. He begins by reaching out to a supportive friend to pour out his problems. “It seems no one can help me now,” he moans. “I’m in too deep / There’s no way out.”
The titular conveyance acts as a metaphor for his uncontrollable ride. “Seems like I should be getting somewhere,” he admits. Somehow I’m neither here nor there.”
At times, the narrator’s confidence grows out of proportion, suggesting a bipolar existence: “I can go where no else can go / I know what no one else knows.”
Pirner’s lyrics profoundly explore how depression can render even sure things unreal: “Day and night / Earth and sky / Somehow I just don’t believe it.”
In the final verse, his descriptions of his condition get harsher. “Like a madman laughing at the rain,” he says. “A little out of touch, a little insane / It’s just easier than dealing with the pain.”
The song rocketed Soul Asylum into the spotlight. And even though they weren’t able to reach the same kind of success with subsequent singles, they’ve carved out a distinguished career, with Pirner still at the helm. “Runaway Train” just barreled right ahead, clearing a path to longevity for this beloved band.
Photo by Gie Knaeps/Getty Images
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