In the song Calling All Angels by Train, there’s the lines:
When children have to play inside so they don’t disappear
While private eyes solve marriage lies cause we don’t talk for years
And football teams are kissing queens and losing sight of having dreams
Now, I can understand how children being abducted and marriages breaking down are bad things. But what exactly does the line about football players kissing queens mean and how is it a bad thing?
Well, losing sight of having dreams is certainly a bad thing, but I have no idea why it would happen during the Homecoming game. Maybe the floats were so lousy that they all got depressed?
And football teams are kissing queens and losing sight of having dreams
Basically its something like the old high school tale of boy dates girl, boy/girl wants to go to college, girl gets knocked up and everybody’s forced to settle down instead of fulfilling their dreams.
I dunno. The theory that the line’s about not going to college because you knocked up the prom queen seems a little stretched. If nothing else, there’s plenty of people who wouldn’t consider getting married and having kids as the end of a dream. For that matter, the preceding line talks about the sorrow of a marriage ending.
Are Train British?
If they are, I would say that the lyric should be taken literally: ie the football (soccer) teams are actually meeting the Queen.
If thats true, the song is lamenting the fact that the players of today are put on too high of a pedestal, and treated like royalty, they go to posh banquets and wear tuxedos, instead of playing the game for cameraderie and fun.
There’s plenty of people who wouldn’t consider it the end of a dream, yes, but plenty of high school kids in certain areas would beg to differ with them. I can think of tons in certain schools within my area who were really struggling to get up to or through higher education (some for the first time in their family) who had to sacrifice that because, well, they did a bit more than kissing the homecoming queen.
Regardless, I maintain the emphasis is about the second half of the line not the first… it’s about the sadness of sometimes having to forget your hopes and dreams for whatever reason.
I don’t think they are but that is exactly how I take the lyric as well.
Personally, I see no problem with them using their career as a stepping stool to larger social circles although I’m not one of those that holds someone’s success against them.
I’m seeking the name of a movie circa early 1980’s. I believe it was made by the same people (directors and/or producers) that brought us “Grand Canyon” in the 1990s. In fact, it is along the exact same lines. It is one of those movies that is like a snapshot in the life and times of a family, or two…or even four, IIRC, in the movie whose name escapes me. It’s not “Shoot The Moon”, but it was out in that same time period - give or take. Also, you could say it is like Steve Martin’s “Parenthood”, more drama and less comedy.
Any guesses? Thanks!
Just an editing note!
This is the god-zillionth damn time I’ve done this! The Boards will hate me! I do this, like a trained rat, because there USED to be a start a new thread button within a thread…and it now has me all screwed up since they took this feature away! I keep reaching for it…it’s a bad habit I can’t seem to shake!
Sorry!
I’m relieved, Jinx, because I thought it was just me having a hard time following the thread.
Aw, I thought this was going to be about “City of New Orleans” or something.
Train. The band which brought us these brilliant lyrics;
and
and
Overanalysis of Pat Monaghan’s lyrical whimsies is bound to cause mental anguish. It’s just best not done. 
I guess I must be turniing into Little Dory! Sheesh! I’m having an identity crisis!