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The Clash — Train In Vain
Album: London Calling
Avg rating:
7.8

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3059









Released: 1979
Length: 3:03
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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You say you stand by your man
Tell me something, I don't understand
You said you love me and that's a fact
And then you left me, said you felt trapped

Well some things you can explain away
But the heartache's in me 'til this day
You didn't stand by me, no not at all
You didn't stand by me, no way

All the times when we were close
I'll remember these things the most
I see all my dreams come tumbling down
I can't be happy without you around

So alone I'll keep the wolves at bay
And there's only one thing I can say
You didn't stand by me, no not at all
You didn't stand by me, no way

You must explain why this must be
Did you lie when you spoke to me?
Did you stand by me?
No, not at all

Now I got a job but it don't pay
I need new clothes, I need somewhere to stay
But without all of these things I can do
But without your love I won't make it through

But you don't understand my point of view
I suppose there's nothing I can do
You didn't stand by me, no not at all
You didn't stand by me, no way

You must explain why this must be
Did you lie when you spoke to me?
Did you stand by me?

You didn't stand by me, no not at all
You didn't stand by me, no way
Comments (238)add comment
Annie Lennox does a great cover of this track
Posted 4 weeks ago by KPC1    [ Reply ]
 SmackDaddy wrote:

Guess you never heard of the Ramones.


Well, yes and they weren't bad but they fall way short of The Clash.
Posted 3 months ago by GarrySR07    [ Reply ]
 mattenuttall wrote:


Been thinking about it for over 42 years now...

2wx m 
W me we
Posted 10 months ago by kendeluney01    [ Reply ]
 mgoldman wrote:

Released 39 years ago.  Think about that for a minute.  



and now 44 yrs ago. crazy.
Posted 11 months ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
 oppositelock wrote:
Saw the Clash live, twice. {#Dancingbanana_2}


Second concert I ever saw. I was twelve or thirteen and my parents dropped my buddy and I off outside the Montreal Forum for the Combat Rock tour, with every concert attendee clad in combat fatigues. My parents were more than a little apprehensive, but being the youngest of three, they were a little desensitized thanks to my older brothers leading the way. 
Posted 1 year ago by johnalexford    [ Reply ]
 oppositelock wrote:
Saw the Clash live, twice. {#Dancingbanana_2}



You lucky duck!  I wish I could have been there too!
Posted 1 year ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 neptunejeff wrote:
Maybe the finest example of the marriage between Punk and Pop on this classic 

Guess you never heard of the Ramones.
Posted 1 year ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
Posted 1 year ago by BelowSeaLevel    [ Reply ]
 mattenuttall wrote:


Been thinking about it for over 42 years now...

Posted 2 years ago by gregskrtic    [ Reply ]
 Ohio_Dog wrote:

I dig this song, but, the cover?!?! Poor guitar. It didn’t hurt nobody…!



Find the story behind that shot. It's pretty remarkable. 
Posted 2 years ago by roadie    [ Reply ]
Rockin and forever strong 💪
Posted 2 years ago by Easyrider    [ Reply ]
 mgoldman wrote:

Released 39 years ago.  Think about that for a minute.  



Been thinking about it for over 42 years now...
Posted 2 years ago by mattenuttall    [ Reply ]
The intro sometimes makes me think it's going to be Garbage - Stupid Girl....
Posted 2 years ago by CCSandman    [ Reply ]
I dig this song, but, the cover?!?! Poor guitar. It didn’t hurt nobody…!
Posted 2 years ago by Ohio_Dog    [ Reply ]
EXCELLENT!
Posted 2 years ago by eileenomurphy    [ Reply ]
 miahfost wrote:

The only band that mattered.

Hafta give that accolade to the Russian ladies in Pussy Riot...Putin put

'em in prison for their tunes...;-(

Tony in NJ

W.A.S.T.E.



Posted 2 years ago by tonyinnj    [ Reply ]
 gregskrtic wrote:


42 years ago!  heard this song on the muzak in the grocery store the other day..... think about THAT for a minute!  

Even more depressing is hearing hot child in the city, and i loved that song in 8th grade 
Posted 2 years ago by jp33442    [ Reply ]
I just Love the Clash!
Posted 3 years ago by jjacque100    [ Reply ]
GREAT TUNE!!!
Posted 3 years ago by joejennings    [ Reply ]
 mgoldman wrote:

Released 39 years ago.  Think about that for a minute.  



42 years ago!  heard this song on the muzak in the grocery store the other day..... think about THAT for a minute!  
Posted 3 years ago by gregskrtic    [ Reply ]
I really love the music of The Clash and have for a long time.  Perhaps its age getting to me, but now the London Calling album cover immediately brings to mind John Hiatt's "Perfectly Good Guitar."
Posted 3 years ago by JPOSBORN    [ Reply ]
 scrubbrush wrote:

2/5/2021 - International Clash Day!
Thanks to KEXP for this great holiday



The student radio station at the University of Windsor (Ontario) celebrates Dec. 22 as Joe Strummer Day. (It's the anniversary of the day Strummer died.) It's a must-listen day for me.  
Posted 3 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
Highschool in England '76 - '80, what a lasting impressions it's had. 
Posted 3 years ago by dmiley    [ Reply ]
 diggyduffy wrote:

Punk?!?



Nope...Pure POP...Still as good today as then.....timeless goodness!
Posted 3 years ago by Rockit9    [ Reply ]
 mgoldman wrote:
Released 39 years ago.  Think about that for a minute.  
 
Eventually the avant-garde becomes the garde.
Posted 3 years ago by MJMJ    [ Reply ]
2/5/2021 - International Clash Day!
Thanks to KEXP for this great holiday
Posted 3 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
 oppositelock wrote:
Saw the Clash live, twice. {#Dancingbanana_2}
 
Time is relentless!
Posted 3 years ago by countryrds    [ Reply ]
Punk?!?
Posted 3 years ago by diggyduffy    [ Reply ]
 ChardRemains wrote:
My 21-month-old daughter LOVES the Clash. Cool, huh?
 

She must be almost 15teen now, she still loves Clash?
Posted 4 years ago by Joanna91540    [ Reply ]
absolutely necessary to crank this!
Posted 4 years ago by maineac    [ Reply ]
 Fat_Man_Flo wrote:


In my top 1 coolest bands.

You got that right!

Posted 4 years ago by ace-marc    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:
In retrospect, this, and all that Big Audio Dynamite stuff was fluff
 
Yikes. That is the opposite of wise.
Posted 4 years ago by ace-marc    [ Reply ]
 SpinyNorma wrote:
Written by Mick Jones as a response to being dumped by The Slits' Viv Albertine. Fact :-D  
 
what did he expect from a Slit?!
Posted 4 years ago by xcranky_yankee    [ Reply ]
 SpencerAR wrote:
7 -=> 8.
 
i'll see your 7->an 8 and raise it to an 8 -> 9!!!!
wait  never mind... All In  goiung to 10!!!
Posted 4 years ago by mikedgreene    [ Reply ]
saw them in the 80s, opening for the who, I think, once; and again at the US festival, did not like them at all at the time, but now really do...
Posted 4 years ago by egeffy1    [ Reply ]
 tanyhon wrote:
Sweet punk-pop
 
The Clash were never really punk (certainly not pop). They were just straight up rock n roll but just happen to be contemporaries with many of the punk bands of the day and a fair amount of the attitude.
Posted 4 years ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:
In retrospect, this, and all that Big Audio Dynamite stuff was fluff
 
So were the Beatles, especially the early crap. 
Posted 4 years ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
7 -=> 8.
Posted 4 years ago by SpencerAR    [ Reply ]
Maybe the finest example of the marriage between Punk and Pop on this classic 
Posted 4 years ago by neptunejeff    [ Reply ]
Sweet punk-pop
Posted 5 years ago by tanyhon    [ Reply ]
Hell ya
Posted 5 years ago by Dfitz    [ Reply ]
Written by Mick Jones as a response to being dumped by The Slits' Viv Albertine. Fact :-D  
Posted 5 years ago by SpinyNorma    [ Reply ]
 oppositelock wrote:
Saw the Clash live, twice. {#Dancingbanana_2}
 


Lightning Strikes (Not Once but Twice)
Posted 5 years ago by justin4kick    [ Reply ]
    
Posted 5 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
tres
Posted 5 years ago by MrMelons    [ Reply ]
Copied a nine year old post for this:
  Posted 9 years ago by grungepuppy:GChevy410 wrote:Kill it Bill!

  Can you do 4 ten ratings in a row?

  Morphine - Buena
  Aretha Franklin - Think
  The Clash - Train in Vain
  ?


  Wow, repeat of April. Can't complain though, great choices.

Add in "Mainline Florida" between "Think" and  "Train in Vain" and we've got a near threepeat.
Posted 5 years ago by bruzote    [ Reply ]
Posted 6 years ago by cavemanleong    [ Reply ]
Released 39 years ago.  Think about that for a minute.  
Posted 6 years ago by mgoldman    [ Reply ]
"London Calling"--my vote for the best rock double album of all time.
Posted 6 years ago by gmsingh123    [ Reply ]
still sounds fresh - could have been a new track by most of the bands playing UK festivals this summer - 
Posted 6 years ago by mtruk    [ Reply ]
I agree 100% with Bill -  "Mick Jones - The Paul McCartney of Punk Rock"
Posted 6 years ago by jmsmy    [ Reply ]
 oppositelock wrote:
Now I got a job and it don't pay.  Truth.

 
Now my clients don't pay.
Posted 7 years ago by oppositelock    [ Reply ]
So much other better stuff on then. Really never got into them. 
Posted 7 years ago by Segue    [ Reply ]
I re-discovered this album a few months ago. A great piece of work.
Posted 7 years ago by BCarn    [ Reply ]
In retrospect, this, and all that Big Audio Dynamite stuff was fluff
Posted 7 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 SquiddlyDiddly wrote:


 
 Are you advertising Trivago?
Posted 7 years ago by TerryS    [ Reply ]

Posted 7 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
Some things you can't explain away...
Posted 7 years ago by netskink    [ Reply ]
Bill: "That was a late 70s pop band called The Clash". Pop?!? Maybe I'm missing a droll ironic tone here... ;-)
Posted 8 years ago by fredriley    [ Reply ]
Awesome Rhythm!
Posted 8 years ago by Santa_Claus    [ Reply ]
Paul Simonon in the pic said that he trashed the wrong bass guitar and he wished he'd looked up at the camera when the pic was taken,
Posted 8 years ago by Skydog    [ Reply ]
Nice snap to the drums on this one.
Posted 8 years ago by boontonite    [ Reply ]
                                      Bill, correct.  They were a late 70s pop band.  Now I feel so old...  {#Wink}
Posted 8 years ago by Jannne    [ Reply ]
Let's dance!!
Posted 9 years ago by AhhtheMusic    [ Reply ]
Now I got a job and it don't pay.  Truth.
Posted 9 years ago by oppositelock    [ Reply ]
An GREAT album but why, oh why does every one play the weakest track on this album ? Why not "London Calling" or "Jimmy Jazz" or "Guns Of Brixton"
 
Posted 9 years ago by jgrosch    [ Reply ]
I actually remember sitting in a sh**ty apartment in late 1979 when I first heard this song.  I turned to some dude sitting next me "in a cloud" and said:

"This could actually be a hit record on U.S. radio!"

I'm happy to say it actually happened!  
  
Posted 9 years ago by treatment_bound    [ Reply ]
 cdysthe wrote:
The Clash got it all together on that album. How incredibly lasting this music is! 

 
If & when 'Guns Of Brixton' (from the same 'London Calling' album, as you know) gets played on RP, take my advice & don't read any of the comments on it, or it'll ruin your day!
(Well, it did mine anyway).


Posted 9 years ago by springof63    [ Reply ]
I really liked this album as a teen. Brings back some good memories.{#Good-vibes}
Posted 9 years ago by MentalWedgie    [ Reply ]
The Clash got it all together on that album. How incredibly lasting this music is! 
Posted 9 years ago by cdysthe    [ Reply ]
 fortheloveofpete wrote:
makes me happy on an early morning flight

 
RP to go?
Posted 9 years ago by mrtuba9    [ Reply ]
I listen to RP to hear the little gems that are not continuously played on fm radio.  London Calling is a great album ALL OF IT not just the 'mainstream' hits.  Dig deep my friends and find those little gems on side 2 or 3 or 4....
Posted 9 years ago by dickmahoon    [ Reply ]
Shoot, candy it is, but who doesn't like to blow a bubble once in a while.  I also usually appriciate Bill's "context".  Listen for the corilation in the set. May help you pop the bubble gum bubble.  
Posted 10 years ago by jfogg    [ Reply ]
makes me happy on an early morning flight
Posted 10 years ago by fortheloveofpete    [ Reply ]
Should be played in tandem with REM "Fall on Me"
Posted 10 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]

Posted 10 years ago by SquiddlyDiddly    [ Reply ]
Great song.  Too many stick with the same old, same old.
Posted 10 years ago by Jota    [ Reply ]
 rharvey658 wrote:
I "tune" to RP to get away from stuff like this.  Agree with others, a bit grating and bubblegum-ish.  Give me London Calling, or Should I Stay/Go, but not this.
 
 
Agree. Much better Clash songs to choose from. 
Posted 10 years ago by kz1300a1    [ Reply ]

Freaking love this song even after all these years. Awesome, fun tune.


Posted 10 years ago by Rick_V    [ Reply ]
Rock and roll would not exist in it's present form were it not for the clash. i prefer their earlier less produced noise.
Posted 10 years ago by zenhead    [ Reply ]
I find no reason for this group to exist, unless it is a foil so we can tell the GOOD bands from the junk.
Posted 10 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
 rharvey658 wrote:
I "tune" to RP to get away from stuff like this.  Agree with others, a bit grating and bubblegum-ish.

 

Never hear bublegum and the Clash used in the same sentence before. When this album came out it knocked me off my feet.
Posted 11 years ago by teleskialaska    [ Reply ]
I "tune" to RP to get away from stuff like this.  Agree with others, a bit grating and bubblegum-ish.  Give me London Calling, or Should I Stay/Go, but not this.
Posted 11 years ago by rharvey658    [ Reply ]
 NeuroGeek wrote:
After listening to Annie Lennox's cover of this, the Clash version just grates

 

I love Annie, but she is not the Clash.
Posted 11 years ago by teleskialaska    [ Reply ]
After listening to Annie Lennox's cover of this, the Clash version just grates
Posted 11 years ago by NeuroGeek    [ Reply ]
Classic!
Posted 11 years ago by Baketown    [ Reply ]
BUBBLEGUM BY ANY OTHER NAME......YUK!...{#Stop} this clashes with everything.....
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
.........................CRAP...................................no  quality.........the singer can't , the band couldn't............
Posted 11 years ago by oldfart48    [ Reply ]
 danoodles wrote:

In my top 10 coolest bands.



 

In my top 1 coolest bands.
Posted 11 years ago by Fat_Man_Flo    [ Reply ]
One of my least favorite Clash songs, and I can't give it less than a 9. 
Long live The Clash
 
Posted 11 years ago by Zonkers    [ Reply ]
 bachbeet wrote:
Annie Lennox does a pretty good version of this.

 
I agree.  Not even close to being as good as this, but on its own... pretty damn good.
Posted 11 years ago by Stratocaster    [ Reply ]
Soccer practice just behind the Ala Wai canal with a bunch of Hungarian guys who didn't want to speak English.  But they played this song loudly -- two or three times a practice --  and danced with it as the ball passed among us from one to the other to the other.  We lost a lot of games that spring.
Posted 11 years ago by unclehud    [ Reply ]
Saw the Clash live, twice. {#Dancingbanana_2}
Posted 11 years ago by oppositelock    [ Reply ]
 EdmoJoe wrote:
Thanks RP for taking me to a "happy place."
 
i'll say
Posted 11 years ago by miamizsun    [ Reply ]

In my top 10 coolest bands.


Posted 11 years ago by danoodles    [ Reply ]
For so many years, I thought this was Joe Jackson. Silly me.
Posted 12 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
{#Drummer} mechanic1
Posted 12 years ago by BibKiller    [ Reply ]
 bachbeet wrote:
Annie Lennox does a pretty good version of this.
 
sirdroseph wrote:


No, no she didn't.
 
I don't even know the Annie Lennox version, so I really shouldn't but I have to agree with sirdroseph!
Posted 12 years ago by JHZ    [ Reply ]
 hencini wrote:

Wow!!  I didn't know they were still playing!!  I saw them open for U2 in 1992 and at some rock festival or another in probably 1995 or so... 
 
Reunion tour - such an unbelievable joy to see Mick live - god dammit, if only Joe...  you know, they were going to reunite for the R&R hall of fame & then Joe passed away...  such a loss...  such a shame.

Go Mick!!!
Posted 12 years ago by Biscobret    [ Reply ]
Perfect.  Pop.  Song.

The only comment that matters.
Posted 12 years ago by Biscobret    [ Reply ]
Classic, brings memories back at school and hearing The Clash being played by the 'cooler' older kids.
. 
Posted 12 years ago by merkin_muffley    [ Reply ]
Seminal album. Absolute R-E-S-P-E-C-T
Posted 12 years ago by DD gypsyman    [ Reply ]
love it
Posted 12 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
Clash-lite, but i love it anyway
Posted 12 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
Good, but Annie Lennox is great.  More Annie!
Posted 12 years ago by MirageRF    [ Reply ]
{#Dancingbanana_2}

Posted 12 years ago by ziakut    [ Reply ]
aww yeah. fantastic memories with this one. it never gets old.
Posted 12 years ago by lily34    [ Reply ]
Thanks RP for taking me to a "happy place."
Posted 12 years ago by EdmoJoe    [ Reply ]
Ohhh yea my High^ School grad year!!
 Was this the Year of the Smashing Guitars?.........

Posted 12 years ago by lagger    [ Reply ]
Clashic Clash!

London Calling was great!
Posted 12 years ago by mikec09    [ Reply ]
 mmoyer wrote:
Just saw Big Audio Dynamite at Outside Lands in San Francisco. They just blew the place a way. It was such a joy!
 
Wow!!  I didn't know they were still playing!!  I saw them open for U2 in 1992 and at some rock festival or another in probably 1995 or so... 
Posted 12 years ago by hencini    [ Reply ]
Great song.  
Posted 12 years ago by hencini    [ Reply ]
I think it doesn´t make much sense linking The Clash to prototypical punck rock. It is not. Especially London Calling; it is rock´n roll in a great variety of forms. This album has so many atributes: intellingent, fun, modern, touching, sad... Take Jimmy Jazz, how can you classify it ? Train in Vain is plain beautiful. Glad Bill keeps playing lots of Clash, it makes my day. Thanks !
Posted 13 years ago by Luciano    [ Reply ]

this is a fantastic, catchy song. I like it. i just wish it was by someone else 'cause it really diminishes my image of the Clash as a great punk band.



Posted 13 years ago by scrubbrush    [ Reply ]
Just saw Big Audio Dynamite at Outside Lands in San Francisco. They just blew the place a way. It was such a joy!
Posted 13 years ago by mmoyer    [ Reply ]
 tovarisch wrote:
I guess its not really a bad song but I have always thought that it was antithetical to the image on the album cover, you can hear this song in the background at a shopping mall, the dude smashing his guitar would probably get escorted out of the shopping mall.
 

I think The Clash were forced by the record company to record this song and release it as a single. I bought the double album back in 1980 and "Train in Vain" was NOT listed on the cover or on the label of side 2 of the second LP (it was the last track). It got a lot of FM airplay—in the Boston area at least—even if the band didn't like it. 


Posted 13 years ago by kcar    [ Reply ]
 tovarisch wrote:
I guess its not really a bad song but I have always thought that it was antithetical to the image on the album cover, you can hear this song in the background at a shopping mall, the dude smashing his guitar would probably get escorted out of the shopping mall.

 

The Clash have (had) many different levels.  Its one of the things I love about them.
Posted 13 years ago by SuzG    [ Reply ]
I guess its not really a bad song but I have always thought that it was antithetical to the image on the album cover, you can hear this song in the background at a shopping mall, the dude smashing his guitar would probably get escorted out of the shopping mall.

Posted 13 years ago by tovarisch    [ Reply ]
I Didn't know until this moment that this album cover is a takeoff on Elvis Presley, only because I'm reading a great book called"1001 Albums you must hear before you die". A great reference. Goes up through 2008 or so and includes "the seldom seen kid". Wow.
Posted 13 years ago by Dave_Mack    [ Reply ]
yes terrific song, but not my first choice from one of the greatest albums ever, just cuz it on commercial radio too much!
Posted 13 years ago by Stranglersfan    [ Reply ]