I hope this old train breaks down, so I could take a walk around and
See what there's no time you see, time is just a melody
People in the streets walking fast as their feet
Can take 'em, I just roll through town
And though this window's got a view, but the frame I'm looking through
Seems to have no concern for now
So for now I

I need this here, old train to breakdown
Oh please just, let me please just breakdown
I need this here, old train to breakdown

Well this engine screams out loud, centipede going to crawl westbound
I don't even make a sound 'cause it's going to sting me to leave this town
And the people in the street that I'll never get to meet
If these tracks don't bend somehow
And I got no time that I got to get to where I don't need to be

So I need this here, old train to breakdown
Oh please just let me please just breakdown
I need this here, old train to breakdown
Let me please breakdown

You know you can't stop nothing if you got no control
Of the thoughts in your mind that you kept and you know
That you don't know nothing but you don't need to know
'Cause all the wisdom's in the trees not the glass windows
You can't stop wishing if you don't let go (I need this here old train to breakdown)
Of the things that you find and you lose and you know
But you keep on rolling, put the moment on hold (Oh please just let me please just breakdown)
Because the frame's too bright, so put the blinds down low

You know you can't stop nothing if you got no control (I need this here old train to breakdown)
Of the thoughts in your mind that you kept and you know
That you don't know nothing but you don't need to know (Oh please just let me please just breakdown)
'Cause all the wisdom's in the trees not the glass windows
I need this here old train to breakdown (You can't stop wishing if you don't let go)
(Of the things that you find and you lose and you know)
Oh please just let me please just breakdown (But you keep on rolling, put the moment on hold)
(Because the frame's too bright, so put the blinds down low)



Lyrics submitted by AllStarMe

Track duration: 03:33

"Breakdown" as written by W. Axl Rose, Saul Hudson, Duff Rose Mckagan, Izzy Stradlin

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, EMI Music Publishing, Royalty Network

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Breakdown song meanings
Add your thoughts

39 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +1
    General Comment:I too enjoy Jack Johnson as well as his music.
    Flag danielroxmysoxoffon September 18, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Jack Johnson is awesome! I simply picture Jack sitting on an old train and looking out the window! I have seen the dude twice in San Diego and I can honestly say that he simply wrote what he saw. Great tune, great guy, great music. My favorite song is never know!
    Flag FCbarcelonaSDon June 28, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:one of the best songs on the whole album, ive been trying to find this album becasue i had it and then i lost it, so i just bought a new one and its bringing back old memories, "upside down" also i good jj song for some reason i cried when the movie curious george ended maybe it was when cg geo shipped off to the jungle or somthing idk
    Flag Patriotfan101on October 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:Fair enough, we now know from JJ himself what the meaning of these lyrics is, but that doesn't mean we can't all find our own interpretation. Here's mine.

    It's about an emotional breakdown (not necessarily relationship-orientated). Literally, he is the train and feels the need to breakdown - ie he's at breaking point.

    "with all the people in the street
    walk as fast as their feet can take them
    i just roam through town"
    = I feel invisible

    "and though my windows got a view
    well the frame i'm looking through
    seems to have no concern for me now"
    = My views on the world are no longer what they were

    "so i don't even make a sound
    cause it's gunna sting me
    when i leave this town
    and all the people in the street
    that i'll never get to meet"
    = I'm gonna keep quiet about my situation so I don't hurt other people.

    "but you can't stop nothing
    if you got no control
    of the thoughts in your mind
    that you kept in, you know"
    = I've lost control and I can't stop it. Things seem inevitable.

    "you can't stop wishing
    if you don't let go
    but things that you find
    and you lose, and you know
    you keep on rolling"
    = I have to get away from everything that currently surrounds me to even try and sort myself out.
    Flag thymoxon May 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It's a relief that people like jj are still around.
    Flag julian333on July 29, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Roq 27 definitly meditated on this one, one of the most introspective synopsis's I've come across, JJ is a walking Taoist it seems, true and strong, keep going jack :)
    Flag 89carolinaon June 25, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don't think it's about a relationship, but if you think it is maybe you are experiancing a problem similar to it. I think it's definatly about how people are constantly going too fast, trying to save time. Like they say, half of our life we ruch through trying to find or save time, and the other half we're bored just trying to figure out what to do with that time. But I can tell by the melody hes really sad about this and I am too. This song encouraged me to rush through work and use my extra time to walk my dog. And on my walks home I enjoy whatever weather hits me because I know life really isn't as long as we want it to be and we should learn to enjoy what helps us. I'm not saying enjoy the fuel polluted air, I'm saying enjoy what flowers are left. Catch my drift?
    Flag EmiEccentricityon May 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I don't think it's about a relationship, but if you think it is maybe you are experiancing a problem similar to it. I think it's definatly about how people are constantly going too fast, trying to save time. Like they say, half of our life we ruch through trying to find or save time, and the other half we're bored just trying to figure out what to do with that time. But I can tell by the melody hes really sad about this and I am too. This song encouraged me to rush through work and use my extra time to walk my dog. And on my walks home I enjoy whatever weather hits me because I know life really isn't as long as we want it to be and we should learn to enjoy what helps us. I'm not saying enjoy the fuel polluted air, I'm saying enjoy what flowers are left. Catch my drift?
    Flag EmiEccentricityon May 20, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i just love listening to this song when i am going through hard times. i just tell myself i need to breakdown and let it all out!
    Flag redbrickon April 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:life can seem like it is just flying by. and if you get caught up in an everyday routine then you are going to miss out on so much. you got to get out of that "train" and look around. experiance different things. be aware of your surroundings.
    Flag kdkmusicon March 29, 2008   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain