FM Static returns with My Brain Says Stop, But My Heart Says Go!, which finds primary figureheads Trevor McNevan and Steve Augustine (both of Thousand Foot Krutch fame) turning in its most melodic, memorable and meaningful album to date that will make it feel like summer outside no matter what the season.

“It’s funny because every artist is excited about their new record and there are a lot of cliché things people say, like it’s their best work yet, but this was honestly such an inspired process and it all came out so naturally,” notes McNevan of the instantly infectious batch. “I’m a sucker for a big hook and this record zeros in more on that top 40 side than in the past, but we didn’t go in with any intentions or hidden agendas. This isn’t a concept record, it's more of a highlight reel of moments and situations in my life that relate to the title.”

“We’re Christians and that’s always been our faith and lifestyle, but we’ve never considered it to be our genre of music,” sums up McNevan. “The goal for me is always that connection--to be able to talk about the things I see and go through and what’s been on my heart. Sometimes it’s just about having fun and sometimes it’s me wanting to be as honest as possible. But no matter what I’m singing about, I've never been a fan of sugarcoating things, because that’s something that's always turned me off. We try our best to make music that feels as honest as possible, both lyrically and musically, and then leave it up to the listener to take away what they will.”

I had the chance to interview McNevan about the meaning behind “Last Train Home.”

Please tell me about the background in writing the song "Last Train Home." Is there a personal story for you about the message of that song?

This song came about from the basic human emotion of trying to fix ourselves all the time and somehow thinking we can accomplish that apart from God. I wanted the message of the song to be about remembering back to before “fixing” ourselves was so important to all of us. In our younger years, we didn’t have so much responsibility and we weren’t as busy so we looked at life as more simplified. To me, the song says that we need to put our faith and trust in Him and God’s plans for our lives and stop trying to take over and drive.

There are a few relationships in my life that inspired this song. I was in a relationship with someone back in the day whose heart was in the right place, but I was younger and thought I could help and “fix” that person. It seemed right at the time, and I remember thinking and feeling that way. I know that sounds bad, but that’s what inspired this subject matter. In talking with friends in similar life stages, they said they can also relate to this message. We sometimes feel like we need to fix ourselves. We see images in movies and TV and we aren’t always comfortable in our own skin.

Did you base the song on any Bible verses? Any life verse?

Hebrews 11:6-7: And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

What's the takeaway message for listeners regarding the song (particularly in the lyrics: Faith is just the other end of doubt, Your truth is gonna make it alright)?

Walking in faith has been the main challenge for me as a believer. I know many times I’ve had no idea where God was taking me and I didn’t know the answers but I’ve felt God telling me to do this or that. A lot of times, people don’t understand faith. That’s where the title of this whole album comes from: My Brain Says Stop, But My Heart Says Go! So, that line in this song is the challenge for listeners.

A lot of people, including myself, have great ideas and when we think of jumping into something it’s easy to squash those ideas and say I can’t do it, I’m just one voice. We kind of contradict ourselves and bury our passions and ambitions. It’s scary to stand out. It’s scary to take those steps out in faith. I can relate to that fear. Something God keeps making more real in my life is taking me back to having faith in action. Faith without action is just faith. We need to do everything we can do, and trust in God to accomplish the impossible. In my life, I am reminded that it’s great to have faith, but I also need to trust in God. ‘His truth is gonna make it alright.’

Here are the lyrics:

Looks like another long dark night
Another moon, another question why?
It's like we were never meant to know sometimes
But nobody wants to be left behind
If we were smarter we could win this thing
We pile the problems in the kitchen sink
We all laugh as we touch the sky
Just like it happens when the angels fly
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!

We've fallen apart
Somewhere back at the start
When we thought that we could fix each other
By ourselves
Let's get back to the part
When things weren't like they are
And we were laughing
On the last train home

You can't underestimate me
Cause I been feelin' lately
Like I'm off course
Ooh ooh
You can shoot me like a cannon
But I'll still be here standin'
Underneath Your sun
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!

We've fallen apart
Somewhere back at the start
When we thought that we could fix each other
By ourselves
Let's get back to the part
When things weren't like they are
And we were laughing
On the last train home

I stopped lying when I believed myself
Cause I stopped tryin'
If there was no way out
Faith is just the other end of doubt
Your truth is gonna make it alright

I stopped lying when I believed myself
Cause I stopped tryin'
If there was no way out
Faith is just the other end of doubt
Your truth is gonna make it alright
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!

We've fallen apart
Somewhere back at the start
When we thought that we could fix each other
By ourselves
Let's get back to the part
When things weren't like they are
And we were laughing
On the last train home

Here’s Matthew Henry’s commentary on Hebrews 11:6-7: “Faith always has been the mark of God's servants, from the beginning of the world. Where the principle is planted by the regenerating Spirit of God, it will cause the truth to be received, concerning justification by the sufferings and merits of Christ. And the same things that are the object of our hope, are the object of our faith. It is a firm persuasion and expectation, that God will perform all he has promised to us in Christ. This persuasion gives the soul to enjoy those things now; it gives them a subsistence or reality in the soul, by the first-fruits and foretastes of them.

“Faith proves to the mind, the reality of things that cannot be seen by the bodily eye. It is a full approval of all God has revealed, as holy, just, and good. This view of faith is explained by many examples of persons in former times, who obtained a good report, or an honorable character in the word of God. Faith was the principle of their holy obedience, remarkable services, and patient sufferings. The Bible gives the most true and exact account of the origin of all things, and we are to believe it, and not to wrest the Scripture account of the creation, because it does not suit with the differing fancies of men. All that we see of the works of creation, were brought into being by the command of God.”

My life verse is Isaiah 6:8: Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" 

“Last Train Home” is a great song from one of my favorite albums of the year. I love the challenge in the song to step out in faith and to not have fear, but to trust in God. I feel inspired to step out in faith from my life verse and the lyrics of this song, “Faith is just the other end of doubt, Your truth is gonna make it alright.”

Here are some questions to consider: Why do some people have a hard time giving up control of things? Do you think God will take you as you are? As Christians, this song also challenges us is in the chorus: “We've fallen apart, Somewhere back at the start, When we thought that we could fix each other by ourselves.”

We can’t fix ourselves apart from God and we need to have a childlike faith and know that God will never leave or forsake His followers. Heaven is our ultimate destination on our “last train home.” Amen.

(You can watch the music video here.)