Originally recorded as a promo single for NME, “Train in Vain” was added last minute to London Calling after the album artwork was finalised. As a result, it was not included in the album track listing and appeared as a hidden track.

“Train in Vain” was the last song we finished after the artwork went to the printer. A couple of Clash websites describe it as a hidden track, but it wasn’t intended to be hidden. The sleeve was already printed before we tacked the song on the end of the master tape – Bill Price (Sound Engineer)

As the song title wasn’t originally known, and the lyrics “Train in Vain” do not actually appear in the song, it became known as “Stand By Me”. In America it was later subtitled “Train In Vain (Stand By Me)”

The song title allegedly alludes to train journeys that Mick Jones, who sings lead vocals, used to take across London to see his then girlfriend Viv Albertine, but returning unhappy, in vain. Viv confirmed this in 2009, during an interview for Eccentric Sleeve Notes.

I’m really proud to have inspired that but often he won’t admit to it. He used to get the train to my place in Shepherds Bush and I would not let him in. He was bleating on the doorstep. That was cruel. It’s such an odd title; there’s nothing in it about a train.

The song has been interpreted by some as a response to “Typical Girls” by The Slits, which mentions girls standing by their men. Albertine split up with songwriter Mick Jones shortly before he wrote the song

The lyrics seem to be presenting one side of a disagreement between the singer and his lover, a disagreement that caused the breakup.

It feels like we are hearing half of a conversation, the singer is talking about the lack of emotional support, while the unheard woman keeps bringing up the importance of financial stability.