Lyrics
Monday morning waiting on a freight train
Anticipation of the start of the week, waiting for a train on Monday morning
I can hear that whistle blowing
Notices the sound of the train's whistle
My old lady tried to stop me
His partner attempts to prevent him from leaving
But I told her I had somewhere to go
Asserts his need to go somewhere despite his partner's objection
Engine forty nine she took me down the line
Rides on Engine 49, a train that takes him on a journey
Back to New Orleans where the women taste like wine
Revisits New Orleans, where the women have a captivating allure like wine
Sweet song singin New Orleans lady
Describes the allure of a woman in New Orleans through a sweet song
Dancing on the barroom floor
Depicts the vibrant scene of a woman dancing on a barroom floor
She makes living so easy
Emphasizes how the woman makes life easy for him, alleviating the need to work
I ain't got to work my days any more
Expresses the freedom from daily work due to the ease brought by the woman
Engine forty nine she took me down the line
Reiterates the journey on Engine 49, heading back to New Orleans
Back to New Orleans where the women taste like wine
Revisits New Orleans, reinforcing the connection between the city and enticing women
Poker playing and gypsies
Introduces poker playing and gypsies, associating them with a natural pairing
Go together like the bird in the sky
Compares poker playing and gypsies to the inseparable nature of a bird in the sky
One is always drinking whiskey
Highlights the constant presence of whiskey in the life of one of the mentioned entities
Neither stays in one place till the day that they die
Portrays the transient and nomadic lifestyle of both poker players and gypsies until their death
Engine forty nine she took me down the line
Continues the journey on Engine 49, symbolizing a continuous cycle or repetition
Back to New Orleans where the women taste like wine
Reiterates the return to New Orleans, emphasizing the enduring appeal of women there
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