Runaway Train
In this piece about rising above negative, destructive emotions to live your life on the basis of positive thinking, the train serves as a metaphor in which it pushes through negativity. When Geddy sings “You’ve got to want it,” you feel the power of the train getting up to speed.—Rob Freedman, Rush Vault
“I was thinking about some of my friends who have difficult domestic situations. Sometimes you need a little nudge. They hold the key to their lives.”—Geddy on Rockline, reproduced in Merely Players
In “the amazing ‘Runaway Train,’ synths and a classic guitar riff press this track along until it slows down for Geddy’s excellent delivery. Not a runaway train at all in terms of music, this track is tightly knit and characterized by the perfect blend of amazing music and lyrical content. (Anyone who listens to Vancouver’s radio station—Rock101—will recognize this riff as the background to their ”legends of classic rock” segment).”—King By-Tor on Prog Archives
“The main riff is simple enough, and the song is largely straightforward rock. Just over two-minutes in, there is a pleasantly encouraging middle section. The song is perhaps a bit longer than it should be since it overuses the main riff and the chorus chords, but it’s a solid song.”—Epignosis on Prog Archives
“Another good one is ‘Runaway Train.’ It’s a little heavier then the rest with some good guitar”—Mellotron Storm on Prog Archives
“‘Working at Perfekt,’ ‘Runaway Train,’ ‘Still’ and ‘Present Tense’ are VERY good songs, no doubts here. They rock, they catch and stick their little choruses in your brain like termites on hardwood.”—Menswear on Prog Archives
Lyrics
Nothing blooms
In a loveless room
You’ve got to want it
You’ve got to want it
Who’s the fool
Where apathy rules
You’ve got to want it
You’ve got to want it
If you don’t want it
It remains the same
It’s a heart of darkness
That wants to play that game
If there’s no defiance
It remains insane
If it’s all compliance
It’s a runaway train
Nothing so cruel
Where malevolence rules
You’ve got to want it
You’ve got to want it
There is no defense
Against pointed arrogance
You’ve got to want it
You’ve got to want it
If you don’t want it
It remains the same
It’s a heart of darkness
That wants to play that game
It can be surprising
When you lose the shame
And the sun starts rising
Another day to tame
If your heart is aching
Just remove the shame
You’ve got to want it
Give your soul a shaking
And refuse the blame
You’ve got to want it
Who’s the fool
Where apathy rules
You’ve got to want it
You’ve got to want it
If you don’t want it
It remains the same
It’s a heart of darkness
That wants to play that game
If there’s no defiance
It remains insane
If it’s all compliance
It’s a runaway train
It’s a runaway train
rush vault 