Released: 2022
‘Crazy Train’ by Collective Soul, performed live at Park West in 1997, is a song that grapples with the madness of our world. It’s a raw commentary on societal conflicts, the struggle for love, and the mental toll it takes on individuals.
The opening lines ‘Crazy, but that’s how it goes / Millions of people living as foes’ set the stage for the song’s theme. It’s a critique of the insanity of our world, where people live as enemies rather than allies.
‘Maybe it’s not too late / To learn how to love / And forget how to hate’ offers a glimmer of hope. It suggests that we can still learn to love and let go of hatred, despite the world’s madness.
‘I’m going off the rails on a crazy train’ is a metaphor for feeling out of control in a chaotic world. It’s like being on a train that’s hurtling towards disaster, with no way to stop it.
‘I’ve listened to preachers / I’ve listened to fools / I’ve watched all the dropouts / Who make their own rules’ shows disillusionment with authority and societal norms. The singer has heard from those who claim to have answers, but none of their solutions seem to work.
‘One person conditioned to rule and control / The media sells it and you have the role’ criticizes societal power dynamics. It suggests that people are conditioned to accept their roles, with the media playing a big part in this process.
‘I know that things are going wrong for me / You gotta listen to my words’ is a plea for understanding. The singer is acknowledging his struggles and asking for others to listen and understand.
‘Heirs of a cold war / That’s what we’ve become / Inheriting troubles I’m mentally numb’ refers to the lingering effects of the Cold War. It suggests that we’ve inherited a world filled with problems that have left us mentally numb.
‘Crazy, I just cannot bear / I’m living with something that just isn’t fair’ expresses the singer’s frustration with the world. It’s a cry of despair, a feeling that the world is unjust and unbearable.
‘Mental wounds not healing / Who and what’s to blame’ speaks to the psychological toll of living in such a world. It questions who or what is responsible for this state of affairs.
In conclusion, ‘Crazy Train’ is a powerful critique of society, a call for change, and a plea for understanding. It’s a song that still resonates today, reminding us of the importance of love, understanding, and questioning the status quo.
