Faces On the Train

racerat

Get Flash to see this player.

Description

A acoustic ballad about the loneliness of modern life. I wrote the lyrics a couple years ago on the F Train heading into NYC, where at rush hour, it's hard not to feel like a number. No loops used on this one, it's all my fault.

Leave a Comment

You must be registered and logged-in to comment.

Lyrics

Faces On the Train
©2007 Racerat

Workin’ hard and stayin’ late
At the job you love to hate
Leave the one you used to need
Parked in front of your T.V.

Checks go out and bills come in
Mask a myriad of sins
Filling holes with things you want
That leave you with this empty longing

See the faces on the train
Living lives they can’t explain
Loving people they forgot
One day they’re there, the next they’re not

One day I say I will be free
And somehow steal serenity
Pack it in a suitcase and
Leave it all, begin again

Minutes fade and disappear
I take a shower, another year
Slowly fades before my eyes
I thought I’d have more time this time

Chorus

Easier numb, with covered ears
Silent symphonies of fear
That serenade my every move
And lead me to this empty rooftop

I’ve grown old now, overnight
Waiting ‘til the time seemed right
Now I decide to clean the slate
One step for love, one leap of faith

See my face, I’m on the train
Living a life I can’t explain
Loving people I forgot
One day I’m here, the next I’m not

Song Stats

Hits: 2805
Comments: 57
Fans: 22
Plays: 213
Downloads: 155
Votes: 12
Uploaded: Oct 20, 2007 - 02:42:43 PM
Last Updated: May 08, 2010 - 10:59:42 PM Last Played: Jan 24, 2013 - 04:24:05 AM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Keywords:

faces (5), life (247), train (43), people (39), forgotten (4), sin (20), T.V. (3), free (67), serenity (13), suitcase (1), numb (3), symphony (68), serenade (15), rooftop (1), old (36), faith (57), suicide (34), loneliness (22)

Hardware:

Taylor 814ce acoustic guitar, Rode NT2000 mic, Fender Jazz bass, Oxygen 8 keyboard, Boss DR-880 Drum machine & bass amp modeler

Software:

Logic Audio 7, Logic Studio 8

Comments

Mcboy	Mcboy said 2068 days ago (October 20th, 2007)
	qeeens ny...ah the memories of laurelton queens...1/2 bus ride to jamaica to take the f or e to manhatten........ahhh the memories...thanks Check out my latest song called Bluesphemy (MJRF 2010)

racerat	racerat said 2068 days ago (October 20th, 2007)
	F'in Thx for listening McB. Park Slope to 14th St. on the F, must have done it 5000 times in 18 years. Cheers to a fellow ex-pat. Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

Feter	Feter said 2068 days ago (October 20th, 2007)
	Faces On the Train this is just So right my friend ..just fabulous !! Check out my latest song called Roll with it

racerat	racerat said 2068 days ago (October 20th, 2007)
	Right Thanks Feter, I'm glad you enjoyed it. Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

FGarofalo	FGarofalo said 2068 days ago (October 20th, 2007)
	Great song Philip. Played it three times. Great vocals. Everything just sounded sweet but dude where is the guitar solo. I can hear it in my head. It goes in after the second chorus. Frank. Check out my latest song called The Chosen Few

racerat	racerat said 2068 days ago (October 20th, 2007)
	solo Frank, Hey man, take a shot at it. I trust you! Philip Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

	said 2068 days ago (October 20th, 2007)
	Nice ! a very nice song, a very good production. The vocal really fits the nice melody ! This is how it should sound, really perfect .. Loved it

racerat	racerat said 2068 days ago (October 20th, 2007)
	Bird is the Word Hey B-Man, Thanks or dropping in. I had recorded this in Logic 7 a couple years ago and dusted it off, having just gotten Logic Studio 8 to polish it up. I ended up re-recording the acoustic guitar and re-mixing and EQ-ing. Glad you liked it. Sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet and post the damn thing. Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

perceptualvortex	perceptualvortex said 2068 days ago (October 20th, 2007)
	Really good Love the vibe, and the singing. Excellent work, man. Check out my latest song called Mercury (RPM 6)

racerat	racerat said 2068 days ago (October 20th, 2007)
	PVtex Thanks man. Kind-of a tear jerker, I know, a bit sappy. Felt bad about labeling it "acoustic rock" cuz it ain't too rockin', but thanks for listening and commenting. Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

lengold	lengold said 2068 days ago (October 20th, 2007)
	Lovely song and very well played, sung and produced. Cheers Len Check out my latest song called B E A U T I F U L

racerat	racerat said 2068 days ago (October 20th, 2007)
	Xmas Thanks Len, and anyone who's reading this, you need to hear lengold's "Well That's Christmas" if you haven't already. VERY cool song. I appreciate the visit. Philip Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

bud	bud said 2068 days ago (October 20th, 2007)
	Powerful stuff here excellent lyrics - really strong writing. Your vocals sound great and every aspect of the the production is as good as it gets. I hear a little Matthew Sweet in your vocals - but better. Great song. Check out my latest song called fig field

racerat	racerat said 2066 days ago (October 23rd, 2007)
	Sweet Matthew that is. I've always dug his pop songs. Appreciate the comparison. I aspire to his level of production and his amazing harmonies. Sorry the stars didn't align for us to get together for coffee in SF this week. Hope your shoot went well. Cheers, Philip Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

echoroom	echoroom said 2068 days ago (October 21st, 2007)
	Summers almost gone... ... but this song is like a cool summer breeze. Lovely vocal, fab harmonies, the usual ace production... this is a really sweet track, Philip, with a beautiful chorus. One of my favs from you ever... this should be on the radio, man. Love it. steve Check out my latest song called Fire of love (remixed version)

racerat	racerat said 2066 days ago (October 23rd, 2007)
	Summer Breeze Makes me feel fine. Thanks Steve. I was kind of going for a "Alone Again Naturally" by Gilbert O'Sullivan vibe with this one. sadness leading to a romantic and gentle suicide. Cheery huh? Hope your wrist feels better soon, mate. More great collabs to come. Philip Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

	said 2067 days ago (October 21st, 2007)
	Smooooooth Very airy sound in this one. Sappy? Sure, but in that 'Bread' way: earnest, strummy and unapologetically lush. Love it!

racerat

racerat said 2066 days ago (October 23rd, 2007)

Bread
Mr. Jim,
When I was on a sailboat cruising the Virgin Islands when I was about 16 we had a total of 3 8-track tapes (remember those....) on board. One of them was "The Best of Bread" by, you guessed it, Bread. That tape would play over and over (8-tracks did that, they never ended) and I guess it somehow entered my deep subconscious and is now slowly working it's way out. Thanks for the listen.
Philip

Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

said 2065 days ago (October 23rd, 2007)

Yep
My brother won that record from a radio station (he preserved the letter that came with it:"Congratulations! You are the winner! Keep Listening," in the sleeve. It was signed, "Pip" -a DJ, I guess). I played that thing practically through to the other side ("If a picture paints a thousand words, then why can't I paint you......"). Come to think of it, it was the only album I ever played that my parents liked...........
Later,

spitlogic	spitlogic said 2067 days ago (October 21st, 2007)
	Solid jam Not too complex and yet a very full sound. I like it. Check out my latest song called Measures

racerat	racerat said 2066 days ago (October 23rd, 2007)
	Props Mr. Logic! Thanks for popping by. Your new track Myeintro is way cool. Love the retro scratchin' and the tasty classical loop that takes it out of the ordinary and into the extraordinary. I appreciate the listen. Philip Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

craft	craft said 2067 days ago (October 21st, 2007)
	ye Great song!! I love the lyrics and the vocals too.. I'm diggin' it my friend!! Your a talented musician... THe perforance is great.. Well done Check out my latest song called Valarty & AJ Craft - Burn (Alternative version)

racerat	racerat said 2066 days ago (October 23rd, 2007)
	Collab Thanks craft. looking forward to hearing your rhymes bustin' out on the collab we have been "crafting". Always a pleasure... Philip Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

dolby	dolby said 2067 days ago (October 22nd, 2007)
	Way to go... I love it when the harmony vocals come in - sucker for that kind of stuff. Lovely. Really enjoyed the gentle rolling vibe on this. More please. Phil Check out my latest song called The Only Ghost Who Cares

racerat

racerat said 2066 days ago (October 23rd, 2007)

sucker
Yeah I'm a sucker for harmonies and lushness, too. It's my weakness. Sometimes I just go with it. Glad you liked it. Always open to criticism and pointers though. When in ballad mode we are cut from the same cloth. I loved your song "Hermannsburg"! Great cello. You should "lush it up" with some harmonies....come on, I know you want to....;-)

Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

paddler

paddler said 2066 days ago (October 23rd, 2007)

cups of tea
What I really like is the accoustic strumming - I'm such a fan of simple straightforward strumming specially when played as well and as clearly as you have done here.Theres a song called 'might just be a one shot deal' off 'cheap thrills' by f.zappa and the second half of it (the first half is all zappa bizarreness) just has really nice warm strumming with interesting bass and drum variations.Thats not a comparison - just an example of that kind of playing I like - joni mitchell - coyote too.You get a pretty big vocal sound with all the harmonies there - like it.Smart photo on your profile by the way - I've considered taking a photo of my stuff in the past but unfortunately i live in a pile of cigarettes and empty bottles so it probably would not be very photogenic.
Many thanks - RG

Check out my latest song called The Warts And All

racerat

racerat said 2066 days ago (October 23rd, 2007)

stuff
Richard,
You don't know how long I cleaned and shuffled things into dark corners before I took that photo of my studio, man it NEVER, looks like that in reality! Oh, but I DO know what your studio looks like, you posted a photo of it for "Wise Old Owl"! I love that shot, your beer, ciggies, boots, CAT hat, micro recorder in the tent. Totally sets the stage for that amazing song. I listen to it all the time when I am out walking my dog in the canyon across the street from our house here in San Fran. You, my friend, are my strumming God. Therefore I am flattered.
Philip

Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

paddler

paddler said 2066 days ago (October 23rd, 2007)

hehe
Its a really good desk too - I love fine old and useful furniture.I notice some spaghetti at the back there - now that is a piece of home.That stuff gets everywhere.We were doing a gig in pub the other day and I got out my keyboard lead thinking i was being vaguely organised and it took about 10 mins to unravel.Luckily on a grand you dont have that trouble so sometimes i get to look proffessional.

Excuse me.I have early morning woffling syndrome.(9am here)

Cheers - RG

Check out my latest song called The Warts And All

Moviz	Moviz said 2066 days ago (October 23rd, 2007)
	I like the sound you you've got going to this; descriptive of work, work, work with that rhythm going forward. The lyrics are excellent too and your singing is really great, regards M Check out my latest song called He's The Jazzman

racerat	racerat said 2065 days ago (October 23rd, 2007)
	Lyrics Coming from a great lyricist, I appreciate that greatly. Listening to your "Another Golden Autumn" as I write this. Lovely lyrics, and beautiful clean accordion. But I guess I should be writing this there....Thanks for listening M! Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

davisamerica	davisamerica said 2065 days ago (October 23rd, 2007)
	sweet! very nice vocals and instruments! great song but what made me play it several times before commenting is the way you move your words.. nearly like another rythm instrument.. nice flow..inter action but independent. very cool man Check out my latest song called 12

racerat

racerat said 2065 days ago (October 24th, 2007)

another instrument
Thanks guys,
Seeing how there are three of you (?) operating as davisamerica... how do you work that out? Just share the password or something? Who writes what?

Anyway, Thanks for the 3 listens! Singing melody has never been one of my natural strengths, it can be a struggle sometimes. I used to do this song at open mics in NYC and had a lot of time to mess around with it. Thanks for comin'.

Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

	said 2065 days ago (October 24th, 2007)
	double double did you double your vocals on this one? needs more cowbell....HAH! great tune, brother Allen

racerat

racerat said 2065 days ago (October 24th, 2007)

Allen
First of all congrats on deciding to use your real name. I gotta do that.

I actually tracked my lead vocal 3 times and mixed them at decreasing levels to each other panned center. I do that a lot, as I am a bit weak in the voice department, or at least insecure. I find when I merely double track you can more easily hear that there is "more than 1 vocal" but when you use 3, you notice the slight differences in timing and phrasing less. I also tracked the backing vocals three times and used a stereo delay to broaden the L/R spread.

I read somewhere that Bob Mould of Husker Du sometimes tracked his vocals 5-8 times to smooth out everything. haven't tried it, but I am tempted. I'm a sucker for a wall of smooth vocals and harmonies.

Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

Vic Holman	Vic Holman said 2064 days ago (October 24th, 2007)
	this trains got power Excellent tune. liked the melody first of all. Excellent mix. Weak in the vocals? ha! I seriously doubt that. The multi tracking really pulls it together. really gave it dimension. the final chorus at the end where the voices fanned out really gave it a nice finish. My new favorite of yours, definately. Check out my latest song called They Must

racerat	racerat said 2064 days ago (October 25th, 2007)
	Vic Glad to see you drop by. Thanks for the ego boost about the vocals, I am flattered. Appreciate the mix comments, too, your mixes rock, so coming form you that means a lot. I haven't been to your page in a bit, I am tres behind, forgive me! Going NOW! Philip Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

guitapick	guitapick said 2063 days ago (October 25th, 2007)
	This... ...is a great, great song. I bow to the mastery...touched me very, very deeply... Check out my latest song called 'Cuz I Can

guitapick	guitapick said 2063 days ago (October 25th, 2007)
	~ ...and I'm quite familiar with the F train, btw... Check out my latest song called 'Cuz I Can

racerat

racerat said 2063 days ago (October 26th, 2007)

F-it
Hey Bob,
Thanks for listening. Yeah, the F Train was my home every morn and every eve for 19 years. I wrote a boatload of lyrics on that train. Read a hundred books. A bunch of Logic manuals and "Recording" and "Electronic Musician" magazines. Now I'm on BART in San Fran. carpet, vacant seats, escalators at every stop, now the lyrics don't come as easily....I'm getting soft.
Philip

Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

Cori Ander	Cori Ander said 2062 days ago (October 26th, 2007)
	Great music Thank you for a great download! This is something I want to listen to again and again. Check out my latest song called Nu tändas tusen juleljus

racerat	racerat said 2060 days ago (October 28th, 2007)
	props to you as well, my friend. I was listening to "My Friend Otto" in the park this morning. Gorgeous!-P Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

Leon	Leon said 2062 days ago (October 26th, 2007)
	this one... is going to my ipod for sure... Phil, I think this one is different from the previous songs of yours I've listened and reviewed.. a little more mainstream pop... and definitely VERY pleasing to the ears.... great instrumentals and vocals... Check out my latest song called Just Another Day

racerat	racerat said 2060 days ago (October 28th, 2007)
	So glad you're back! Here at least. Where you been dude? I haven't seen your comments around (here or elsewhere) in a while. Neretheless, I am pleased you lent an ear and a few minutes of your time. I always appreciate your comments, coming from one of the best set of pipes on MJ's! -P Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

kristyjo	kristyjo said 2061 days ago (October 27th, 2007)
	Ilove it - a bit of a sad song, but sung and played so well. Actually, this can go in my 'pity me' file, next to Janice Ian and Gilbert O'Sullivan. Who knew feeling crappy could be expressed so beautifully. Check out my latest song called The Black Cat

racerat	racerat said 2060 days ago (October 28th, 2007)
	KJ Hey KristyJo, So glad you dropped in! Thanks for the listen! Janice Ian's "At Seventeen" is another one of those great tear jerkers from my teens that I hadn't thought about in a while! -P Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

Joe Brady	Joe Brady said 2059 days ago (October 29th, 2007)
	Great groove; Hooked by the groove, I am rewarded with great writing. The imagery takes me right to the train, and the rooftop; but the point-of-view start to finish is maintained through verse and chorus. Great job. Check out my latest song called Long Way From Denver

racerat	racerat said 2054 days ago (November 3rd, 2007)
	Hey Joe I've been digging your stuff recently, too! Great images and very honest lyrics and emotions. I appreciate the listen! Philip Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

	said 2058 days ago (October 30th, 2007)
	Cool. This has a great vibe and a subject we all know to well. The lyrics just roll into one another. Great writing! The vox performance and mix is outstanding! Awesome song! Great job Phil. Peace. Chris

racerat	racerat said 2054 days ago (November 3rd, 2007)
	Thx I know that your stuff is much more on the harder side, so I appreciate you stopping in! I have been on a mellow track recently, but the angst is beginning to bubble up again! Stay tuned. Philip Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

Heightened	Heightened said 2058 days ago (October 30th, 2007)
	Faces on the Train Uber cool song! Check out my latest song called Caldari

racerat	racerat said 2054 days ago (November 3rd, 2007)
	Thx Uber Thx! Glad you got your Logic 8 issue fixed! Cheers, P Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

Drew Kopr	Drew Kopr said 2039 days ago (November 18th, 2007)
	Still humming it I'm still humming that bass line...great stuff man...nice groove too. Good job singing and harmonizing...very well done!!! Check out my latest song called IfIWereHigh

racerat	racerat said 2037 days ago (November 20th, 2007)
	Dru Thanks Andrew. I'm looking forward to hearing our new collab out there soon on Steve's page. Nice bass work on that, man. Juiced it up a notch. P Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

	said 2037 days ago (November 21st, 2007)
	cool bass really like the bass line on this one, and the piano compliments the song nicely as well. like the meaning behind the lyrics, good observations.

Warren Smith

Warren Smith said 1958 days ago (February 7th, 2008)

insertion point
As usual, I%u2019m late to the party : >

I%u2019ve been listening to your fine collection of postings here at Macjams for a couple of months (that%u2019s how long it has taken me to work down and back up through your catalog). There%u2019s a lot to absorb. While much of the material is straight-ahead power-rockers, there is plenty of derivatives, shifts and tangents to inculcate. All in all, it%u2019s a very impressive collection!

I hope to go back and drop in a comment or two on other specific pieces, but I felt this was a good place to insert myself, because I%u2019m regularly making that Monday through Friday, Brooklyn to Manhattan, subway commute ... just one of those faces on the train ....

Perhaps the most impressive feature in your songs is your guitar work, which is big, bold, confident, brash and articulate (although it can also be soft and lonely when that kind of emotion is called for). I%u2019m amazed at the variety of sounds you get out of your guitar %u2013 you never seem to use the same sonic combinations more than once, like you are always searching for not only the right chord, but also the right sound to define the mood for a particular song.

While it%u2019s obvious that the guitar is where you insert yourself, I see a compositional growth happening, too, that you are expanding your song-writing chops. You seem to be playing more instruments, writing more of your own material and letting your singing voice come to the front. I recognize this evolution %u2013 it%u2019s the impact that participating in the macjams online community has on one%u2019s music!

One thing I particularly like about your songs is they have a solid sense of time and place. When you sing about the city %u2013 it feels urban ("This line never moves and I%u2019m stuck at the fuckin%u2019 store%u201D or "Go back home/My pad's a fuckin%u2019 joke/Chock Full %u2018o%u2019 Roaches/And not a one to smoke%u201D). When you sing about the country %u2013 it feels rural (%u201CFallen Bear Ridge/where bluebells and moonlight/cover the bridge%u201D).

New York certainly provided a stimulus to your creativity - and it will be interesting to see what kind of effect San Francisco has on your music.

Check out my latest song called He Said She Said

Warren Smith	Warren Smith said 1958 days ago (February 7th, 2008)
	damaged text What are all those %u2019ms doing screwing up my text? Sorry. That's what I get for trying to write something on a PC instead of my Mac : ( Check out my latest song called He Said She Said

racerat

racerat said 1731 days ago (September 22nd, 2008)

Warren
Thank you so much for this comment. I have to say it is certainly the most well considered and thoughtful ones I have ever received and I thank you mightily for that. So many one liners from people, but not you.

It seem like you have indeed listened to a lot of my catalog and again I appreciate the attention and interest. That is why I got involved here, to give and receive honest critique, to get better as a musician and as a recordist. Feel free to be more critical and don't feel you have to always accentuate the positive, I have a think skin and I only get better when what I do is questioned (constructively of coarse!).

Anyway, thanks for listening and I will soon return the favor!

Best,
Philip

P.S. Brooklyn still rocks the hardest. California is makin' me soft!

Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

JAB24

JAB24 said 606 days ago (October 22nd, 2011)

Faces On the Train
I found this on macjams sampler on the main page . you really have Great vocals. No offense but as the song started I thought it sounded like the beginning of Already Gone by Kelly Clarkson. give it a listen . Your song was written first. I really like this a lot ! I also love the harmony. Great stuff ! I am a fan !

Check out my latest song called I Didn't Want To Say Goodbye

Fan List

bud

Artist Info

Name: racerat
Location: Cincinnati OH USA

I went to school for the fine arts, painting, and taught that for a while, but I am now a graphic design executive by day, and a musician most the rest of the time. I play guitar and bass mostly, do midi synth stuff, use drum machines ... [see more]

Check out some of my other songs:

Genre Info

More songs in Acoustic Rock:

Chat

aclarke	102
Alimar	110
Celticpsalm	31
Chief Thunder Bear	74
magnatone	64
Parichayaka	89
Warren Smith	101
WharmtonRise	53