Southbound Train

Album: Fall (2007)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Fall is the first of four solo EPs from Switchfoot frontman Jon Foreman, each named for a different season. Opening with harmonica and strings to mimic the sound of a train chugging along, "Southbound Train" finds a passenger longing for the woman he loves. While staring out the locomotive's window, he starts seeing her features reflected in the scenes of nature. Foreman told antimusic.com he wrote the tune while on a train from Santa Barbara to San Diego. "Trains are romantic," he explained. "Planes are business cards, cars are like family, but trains feel more like a dating relationship. I live near the train tracks and I wanted this track to feel like a train."
  • This features frequent Switchfoot guest musician Keith Tutt II on cello.
  • Foreman recalls how the track came together: "My friend Jamie [Tworkowski, founder of the nonprofit To Write Love On Her Arms] was staying at my place while we were tracking this. I remember both of us sitting on the carpet listening to either lay this down. I remember we used a pillow and breathing for the percussion." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Noah – USA, for above 3

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)

Dexys (Kevin Rowland and Jim Paterson)Songwriter Interviews

"Come On Eileen" was a colossal '80s hit, but the band - far more appreciated in their native UK than stateside - released just three albums before their split. Now, Dexys is back.

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")

Director Wes Edwards ("Drunk on a Plane")Song Writing

Wes Edwards takes us behind the scenes of videos he shot for Jason Aldean, Dierks Bentley and Chase Bryant. The train was real - the airplane was not.

Metallica

MetallicaFact or Fiction

Beef with Bon Jovi? An unfortunate Spandex period? See if you can spot the true stories in this Metallica version of Fact or Fiction.

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Spooner Oldham

Spooner OldhamSongwriter Interviews

His keyboard work helped define the Muscle Shoals sound and make him an integral part of many Neil Young recordings. Spooner is also an accomplished songwriter, whose hits include "I'm Your Puppet" and "Cry Like A Baby."