Stations

Denison Witmer

Stations make me think of the end of my freshman year of college. I was introduced to this song through my friend at the time, Amy, and a couple other friends as well. This song first took on its meaning when I had first started going out with Jay and we had started our courtship. As I was entering into a new phase of my life, I was reflecting on the “station” that I was at in life at that point and how many other “stations” had brought me to that point. In other words, I was thinking about the choices I had made and how each of those choices had played their part in bringing me to where I was. I think we all do that at some point… we make a decision, but then we look back and wonder what might have happened had we made a different choice, or how the choices we had made in the past have affected us. Well, that’s what this song means to me. It means looking back on life and seeing the people and places that you’ve been through and how they shaped your life and who you are. When you make a choice that causes a change in your life, do you forfeit all that you were beforehand, or does part of your past still go with you into the future? For me, this song reflects that question…

I’ll be waiting on your train
When you come back, through the Western states
Where I left you on the platform
Life gets so hard, but I know that you’ll be fine

Stations make me think of my own travels
All the people and places I’ve been through
When you find out they’re the same thing
As the people and places where you grew

Can you promise me
You’ll still love, what you loved
When you left?
Will you promise me
You’ll still have, what you had
When you left?

All I want is to be honest
Like the seasons, as talk about that slows
There’s compassion that holds no words
It holds no words
I feel it as you go

Can you promise me
You’ll still love, what you loved
When you left?
Will you promise me
You’ll still have, what you had
When you left?