Jumping Someone Else's Train

The song "Jumping Someone Else's Train" by The Cure delves into the theme of conformity and the human tendency to follow the crowd without expressing individuality. The lyrics suggest a critique of people who adopt trends and ideas mindlessly, simply to fit in or to claim they were part of something popular. The opening lines, 'Don't say what you mean / You might spoil your face,' imply that speaking one's mind or being authentic could lead to social disapproval or ostracism. The song portrays the act of conforming as a way to maintain a superficial image, at the expense of one's true self.

The chorus, 'It's always the same / You're jumping someone else's train,' uses the metaphor of jumping on a train to represent the ease with which people latch onto existing movements or fads. The train symbolizes a predetermined path laid out by others, and jumping on it means abandoning one's own direction in life. The Cure is known for their post-punk and new wave sound, often exploring themes of alienation and introspection, which is reflected in this song's examination of societal pressures to conform.

The song also touches on the fleeting nature of trends with the lines, 'It's the latest wave / That you've been craving for.' It suggests that people are quick to abandon their principles or past interests in pursuit of what is currently fashionable. The repetition of 'jumping someone else's train' throughout the song emphasizes the cyclical pattern of this behavior, highlighting the lack of originality and the continuous search for a collective identity that ultimately leads to homogeneity.