The Midnight Train Ride Van Took Through Scotland While Listening To John Coltrane — And Humming New Lines

April 1, 2025

Van sat by the window of the midnight train, watching as the rolling hills of Scotland raced by like fleeting dreams. The train’s rhythmic clatter mimicked the beat of his heart, each thump resonating with the swell of John Coltrane’s saxophone playing in his earbuds. Coltrane’s music filled the small space around him, wrapping him in a warm embrace. Each note felt like a conversation, an electric exchange that ignited his imagination. As the train snaked through the misty glens and sweeping valleys, Van couldn’t help but hum along, creating new melodies that danced in harmony with the iconic tunes of the jazz legend.

The air inside the train was thick with the scent of metal and wood, but outside, Scotland was alive with the twinkling of stars and the soft glow of moonlight. The landscape transformed from the familiar to the surreal, each bend in the track revealing another magical scene. Van felt a sense of freedom as he gazed out, his thoughts swirling just like the mist over the hills. He was in a liminal space, a bridge between where he had been and where he yearned to go. The music sparked a fire in his heart, urging him to pour out his thoughts and emotions into something greater than himself.

In that moment, inspiration struck like lightning. He pulled out a notebook and began scribbling down the new lines that flowed effortlessly from his mind. The words fell onto the page like raindrops, each one a promise to himself to embrace his artistic journey. He thought about how Coltrane had pushed the boundaries of jazz, using his passion to spread messages of love and peace amid a tumultuous world. It reminded him that music could be more than an escape; it could be a powerful vehicle for change, a way to connect souls across distances and differences.

As the train wound its way through the night, Van felt an awakening within him. He realized that if he wanted to share his voice with the world, he had to be brave and authentic. Inspired by Coltrane’s fearless exploration of sound, Van decided to take his own leap into the deep waters of creativity. The midnight train ride wasn’t just a simple trip; it was a pivotal moment that would steer his life toward the passion he had always felt in his heart.

When dawn broke, painting the sky with strokes of pink and gold, Van stepped off the train with a renewed sense of purpose. He had found not only inspiration on that journey but also a commitment to his craft. Each note he created afterward felt infused with the energy of that night, and he often returned to the hum of Coltrane’s melodies when he needed a reminder of his path. The ride through Scotland was a turning point, a reminder that art and music could thrive in the darkest of nights, illuminating the way forward when he needed it most.

From that night on, Van carried the spirit of the midnight train with him, a symbol of resilience and passion for his art. As he continued to write and perform, he always looked back on those moments of inspiration with gratitude. The midnight train had not only taken him through the breathtaking landscapes of Scotland but had also transported him to the depths of his own creativity, urging him to chase his dreams and share his voice with the world.