Runaway Train

Album: Life (2018)
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Songfacts®:

  • Boy George wrote this travelogue number while on tour in Boston.

    Flew down to airy California sun
    So many people tryna be someone
    Michelle Obama, you know my name
    The truth is a runaway train


    The Culture Club singer penned the song during the Obama administration, which is why he namechecks Michelle Obama.
  • George told Entertainment Weekly he used to laugh at the idea of songs with the topic of being on the road. However, during this particular tour he'd come to the realization how fortunate he was to be on tour performing music, "being loved and adored." So the Culture Club frontman set himself, "a challenge to write about traveling around America."
  • Boy George originally penned this as a Johnny Cash tribute, but in time it transformed into a Gladys Knight & The Pips-esque soul stomper.

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