Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a vivid childhood memory, observing a "train set and match" and hearing the "hiss of the train." This immediate sensory detail grounds the listener in a specific, nostalgic scene. It quickly establishes a melancholic undercurrent, however, with the recurring lament that "Always the summers are slipping away." This sets a tone of wistful reflection on time's relentless passage. A core tension emerges between the fleeting nature of time and the weight of experience. The train, initially a childhood toy, transforms into a "sixty ton angel" that "falls to the earth," leaving "scars in the country, the summer and her." This powerful imagery suggests that even beautiful, powerful forces leave their mark, and that the passage of time, like a train, can be both majestic and destructive, impacting both landscape and relationships. The lyrics masterfully connect the train's presence to an intense, present-day romantic encounter. The repeated lines, "When I hear the engine pass I'm kissing you wide / The hissing subsides, I'm in luck," directly link the external sound to an internal, passionate moment. This isn't just a backdrop; the train's sound becomes a trigger, almost a cue, for profound intimacy. The subsequent "you're tying me up / I'm dying of love, it's OK" reveals a surrender to overwhelming emotion, accepting its intensity without fear. What makes these lyrics resonate is their ability to weave together disparate threads: the innocence of youth, the inexorable march of time, and the consuming power of adult love. The train motif evolves from a symbol of childhood wonder to a metaphor for life's unstoppable momentum and the profound, sometimes overwhelming, experiences it brings. By juxtaposing the wistful "slipping away" with the fierce, present-tense "dying of love," the lyrics capture the bittersweet beauty of living fully, even as time relentlessly moves forward.