Broken Train
By: Beck Hansen
Written by: Beck Hansen

Alternate Titles:

a.k.a. Out of Kontrol

Versions:
  1. Broken Train (4:10)
    Available on Midnite Vultures and 1 other release.
    Credits
    Justin Meldal-Johnsen: Bass, Percussion
    Roger Joseph Manning Jr.: Clavinet, Guitar (Acoustic), Keyboard / Synthesizer, Percussion
    Joey Waronker: Drums
    Mickey Petralia: Engineer, Mix, Producer, Programming
    Beck Hansen: Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboard / Synthesizer, Marimba, Producer, Programming, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
    2.  
 
Lyrics:
Broken Train [Version (a)]:

The snipers are passed out in the bushes again
I'm glad I got my suit dry-cleaned before the riots started
'Cause there's only rehashed faces on the bread line tonight
Soon you'll be a figment of some infamous life
Billionaires smile like weapons
Passing out platinum pensions
They're out of control, no one knows how low they'll go
Hold on! Take a ride on a broken train
Hold on! Take a ride on a broken train

Those bra-burning deportees at the service station
They know that beige is the color of resignation
We're out of control
No-one knows how low we'll go
Hold on! Take a ride on a broken train
Hold on! Take a ride on a broken train

Shining like crystal tiaras
Ghettoes and grey Rivieras
This is the real me, ladies
You won't find no shelter here
Tell me, what's your zip code baby?
Did you ever let a cowboy sit on your lap?

They're out of control
No-one knows how low they'll go
Hold on! Take a ride on a broken train
Hold on! Take a ride on a broken train
We're out of control, we're out of control
We're out of control, we're out of control
Hold on! Take a ride on a broken train
Take a ride on a broken train
 
The Song:

"Broken Train" was originally titled "Out Of Kontrol," and early promos of the album actually use that title. Beck changed it at the last minute because, as he explained at the Midnite Vultures kick-off concert on November 1 1999, the Chemical Brothers used the title first. (Not to mention the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Rolling Stones, or U2.)

The song has a nice Captain Beefheart-like funky blues-deconstruction going on. (See "Grow Fins" for more on his influence on Beck.)

I read the lyrics to be some of the most overtly political that Beck has ever written, which is ironic coming in the middle of Midnite Vultures and all (which is not particularly full of political statements).

The song refers to the stark contrast between the rich and the poor, a world of perpetual breadlines and smiling billionaires, of crystal tiaras and ghettoes & grey Rivieras (a car), dry-cleaned suits and riots. The billionaires are in charge, handing out the pensions, and not so surreptitiously announcing "we're out of control!"

Is capitalism working? Is it the broken train that can't be stopped? "You won't find no shelter here," seems to refer to another anti-capitalism song/sentiment, Rage Against The Machine's "No Shelter" ("drawn to the dream they got you searchin' for / the thin line between entertainment and war / there'll be no shelter here").


 
Live:

Played live 40 times:
November 1, 1999
January 26, 2000
February 3, 2000
February 6, 2000
May 21, 2000
May 24, 2000
May 26, 2000
May 29, 2000
May 30, 2000
July 28, 2000
...and 30 more.

Earliest known live version: November 1, 1999
Latest known live version: June 20, 2003

OK, so "Broken Train" was never a song Beck played with lasting regularity.

1999-2000 Vultures tours

Beck toured behind the Vultures for a good 10 months, roughly 90 shows. There were 14 "Broken Train"s.

The first live performance of "Broken Train" was at the November 1, 1999 concer. This was the Midnite Vultures Kick-off Concert, a few weeks before the album was released. It was performed a few times early on the first leg, then forgotten entirely until the fourth leg in Japan.

The versions from the Japanese leg were, despite the lack of previous performances, quite strong. By this time, the band had begun jamming and improvising a bit more. This particularly showed in the performances of "Broken Train," which are filled with all sorts of diverse sounds: funk rhythm guitar, a muscled guitar solo, twirling synthesizer licks, lots of harmonica. Recommended version: August 22 2000. Awesome.

Summer 2001 version

The arrangement from the summer of 2001 is also solid. A ringing percussion sound, like a glockenspiel or something, is added in the beginning. The song seems much heavier than normal, despite the presence of the female back-up singers. On June 29, the weird guitar solo in the middle was replaced by harmonica. Though interestingly, on the July 12 version it was back. There really is a lot going on in this song, and I'm surprised it wasn't played more than it was!

2003 version

In March 2003, Beck took his old gang (Smokey, Justin, Joey) to Australia and Japan for a quick tour. "Broken Train" re-emerged after a few years absence. He also did it a few times only with his summer 2003 band.

It has not been played since.
 
Notes: