Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) – Train | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#5) and Adult Top 40 (#1); 2001
Story Behind The Song By Harris Sterling
In 2001, Train released Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) as the lead single from their second album of the same name. Written by lead singer Pat Monahan, the song became the band’s breakthrough hit.
Monahan has stated that the song was inspired in part by a dream about his late mother. Rather than writing a literal tribute, he used space-themed imagery to describe personal growth and change.
Produced by Brendan O’Brien, the recording blended rock instrumentation with orchestral elements, including a string arrangement that gave the track a broader pop appeal. Released in early 2001, the single reached the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Adult Top 40 chart.
The lyric centers on reunion and reflection, as the narrator questions a former partner about what she has learned through her experiences. The celestial references serve as metaphor rather than science fiction narrative.
Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) won two Grammy Awards and remains Train’s signature recording.
Produced by:
Brendan O’Brien
Lyrics Written by:
Pat Monahan
Awards:
Grammy Award for Best Rock Song (2002)
Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) (2002)
Harris Sterling
Independent music label executive Harris Sterling has worked in the music industry for most of his career.
As Executive Vice President for independent music label Madacy Entertainment, he led the strategic marketing and business development for the label, negotiating agreements with the major record labels to release custom music compilations under license with major brands, such as Ford Motor Company, Crayola, Care Bears and Elvis Presley Enterprises.
Harris also led Madacy’s strategy for the licensing of its entire music catalogue to Apple for their launch of the IPOD.
In 2011, Harris co-founded Starting Five Media, a company that specializes in recording and licensing custom renditions of popular songs as well as clearing the rights to the music composition for use by their clients in media projects.
Harris has negotiated publishing and master recording rights for many Top 40 songs for use in various media projects, TV Commercials and more.