Soul Asylum – Runaway Train

Heard this in the nineties when I still listened to the radio between changing tapes. I remember the video being used to find missing children. The music video for “Runaway Train” featured photographs and names of missing children in the style of a public service announcement. That was a great idea.

At the end of the original video, lead singer Dave Pirner appeared and said, “If you’ve seen one of these kids, or you are one of them, please call this number” before a missing children telephone helpline number appeared. The video was edited for use outside the US to include photos and names of missing children from wherever the video was to be shown. It drew awareness to the problem and was instrumental in reuniting several children with their families. The director said out of the 36 kids featured in the U.S. versions, they eventually found 21. I have a video at the bottom about a girl that was found through the video. 

There is a special player in this song. This was a Hammond B3 organ was played by Booker T. Jones, who was a member of the group Booker T. & the M.G.’s. Jones played on many Soul classics of the ’60s and ’70s, mostly the Stax Records recordings, as his group served as their house band.

Lead singer Dave Pirner wrote this song and he said it was about depression. It took him a few years to write. Soul Asylum were label mates of The Replacements and were on Twin Tone Records at one time. They formed in 1981 in Minneapolis.

Runaway Train peaked at #5 on the Billboard 100, #1 in Canada, #7 in the UK, and #2 in New Zealand in 1993.

Here is a story of one that was found because of the video.

Runaway Train

Call you up in the middle of the night
Like a firefly without a light
You were there like a slow torch 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 drownin’ in the rain
With a ticket for a runaway train

Everything is 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 laughin’ at the rain
Little out of touch, little insane
Just easier than dealing with the pain

Runaway train never comin’ 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 comin’ back
Runaway train tearin’ up the track
Runaway train burnin’ in my veins
Runaway but it always seems the same

…

Unknown's avatar

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

43 thoughts on “Soul Asylum – Runaway Train”

  2. I had no idea of the impact this video had. That was an incredible story about that woman who was reunited with her family, very touching. The song certainly takes on a whole new meaning. Btw I thought this was Tom Petty when I first heard it on radio back then. I was not much of a music video consumer.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. To be fair…it would have fit Petty perfectly. I knew about them because of the Replacements link.
      It was a great way of using a video I agree.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. I never knew this incredible song and story. Thanks, Max! When I was 18 I knew older people who took in runaways. I always had a slightly creepy feeling and didn’t know what to do. I didn’t know if they were helping or using them. This brought it all back.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  9. I always loved that song. In a funny way, the vocals remind of British pop rock band Smokey and their lead vocalist Chris Norman.

    Smokey were huge in Germany in the ‘70s. BTW, they also covered “Needles and Pins” – in fact, their rendition was the first version of the song I heard, then the original by The Searchers and then Tom Petty!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Yea I’ve always liked the song as well…I’ll have to look Smokey up…I don’t think I’ve heard them.
      Also what Soul Asylum did with the video is great.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. Ok….I do remember it…I was looking through youtube for seventies songs..as soon as I saw the guy I remembered it….pretty cool song!

        Liked by 1 person

      10. LOL…
        you know something…back then Alice was a big thing. There was a tv show “Alice” and it was built off of a movie called “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”… I have to wonder if that is where they got the idea?

        Like

  10. One of those 90s songs I liked, but never went out of my way to hear, but I had a buddy who briefly was really into the album this one came off so I heard it a lot if I was at his place. Excellent about the missing kids being found though! That’s amazing – I really didn’t think those ‘have you seen’ ads ever worked – and kudos to Pirner for doing that. That’s a good story and he should feel proud to this day.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. Oh I liked this one…I knew about them back years before because of the Replacements.
      Yea of course it was sad stories also…some on the original video were found and didn’t want to be…they ran away for a reason…of course some they didn’t find at all.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    1. There were more but…some of them didn’t want to be found…not all bad things but some just didn’t get along with their parents…but it did help a few though and most importantly it drew attention to the problem.
      I remember the milk cartons…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  12. Yes Max, as was said some run away for the most ungodly reasons. Some parents are worth running away from. The video had to open eyes though, and it is a great way of doing a service rather than spend thousands on a self indulgent ego stroke vid, and there’s plenty of those around. The song was massive here but I never saw the video so I didn’t know of it being used here for a good purpose.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Yes…you can’t blame them for trying. I read some more on it today and one girl when to a meet and greet with the band at the time and her picture was on there. She said to them “why are you trying to ruin my life”…you can’t make everyone happy. But at least they tried to do good. The video did indeed help some.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  15. Pingback: Soul Asylum – Runaway Train | WhitePapers

  16. Max, thank you so much for posting this and bringing back the missing children part of it. You got me reaching for the kleenex watching the first video. After doing my job for 20 years, I understand that some kids are just freakily abducted by total strangers, like it shows at the end of the 2nd video, but MOST kids decide to run away from home for one reason or another. Then you understand they are running away from something horrible at home. What they don’t understand are the horrific dangers they risk out on the street. It is truly heartbreaking 😦

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. I have a new respect for Soul Asylum…I like the song anyway but they turned it into something to help. I’m sure some weren’t happy they were found but at least it did help some.
      I can’t imagine what some go through…some of the kids were from bad homes but some just were rebellious…and yea…..the streets are no place for kids. I was very happy for that lady.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      2. I do lol…the reason I was so late replying…I hit one of the many potholes on the home…after I did all hell broke loose. My battery died and I was stuck on an on ramp…not a fun afternoon….it ended up being a short in the alternator that my mechanic friend fixed… Not that you really wanted to hear this lol.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Oh no! Not a good place to have the vehicle go kaput. So happy your buddy helped you. Did you call him or have your vehicle towed to him? The roads are hideous with potholes!

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Oh I called him…yea the potholes are everywhere because of the recent snow and ice.
        It seems to be fine now. He is going to look at it tomorrow morning as well to be sure.

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment