My Love Affair with Trains
Journey of Longing: Merle Haggard's Melodic Ode to Freedom
Lyrics
Every time I hear the sound of a train
Expresses the emotional impact of hearing a train.
Coming down that railroad track
Highlights the visual and auditory experience of a train approaching.
I get that faraway look in my eye
Describes a nostalgic and dreamy expression triggered by the train's sound.
And I'd like to throw my hammer down
Expresses a desire to abandon current responsibilities and commitments.
And take off to some distant town
Wants to leave abruptly for a distant destination without saying goodbye.
And not even take the time to say goodbye
Reflects the urgency to follow the train-induced impulse.
I've got to think about my babies
Reminder of familial obligations and responsibilities.
About my job and my old lady
Consideration of the impact on family and work.
And how much she'd miss me if I was gone
Recognition of the emotional effect on the speaker's spouse.
And I love them more than anything
Declaration of love for family.
But I got this feeling near by trains
Confession of a persistent attraction to trains.
And sometimes I wish I was
Expression of a wish to be on a train.
On that train and gone
Desire to escape and be away on a train.
That train keeps a-rolling down the track
Depiction of the continuous movement of the train.
Bringing my old memories back
Stirring up past memories through the train's journey.
Making hobo blood boil in my veins
Metaphorical reference to intense excitement and passion.
Reviving my old love affair with trains
Expresses a revived deep emotional connection with trains.
The nights ain't never long enough
Complaint about the shortness of the night.
My wife keeps saying "you get up
Wife's reminder about work and punctuality.
For you'll be late to work
Encouragement to avoid missing the work commute.
And miss your ride"
Reference to the urgency of catching the train for work.
I grab my dinner bucket up
Preparation for work with a lunchbox.
And jump on the back of your pickup truck
Transportation to work on a pickup truck.
And I wonder if I'll jump that train tonight
Contemplation of jumping on a train instead of going to work.
And it wasn't long ago
Recollection of a time when the speaker freely jumped trains.
That I was free to jump that train and ride
Reminiscence of the past freedom to ride trains.
But I gave it up to be a family man
Choice to settle down and prioritize family over free-spiritedness.
And I don't suppose I'll ever go
Recognition that the speaker may never return to free-spirited ways.
But when I hear that whistle blow
Evocation of a nostalgic feeling when hearing a train whistle.
I think of my old love affair again
Rekindling the desire for the speaker's old love affair with trains.
That train keeps a-rolling down the track
Reiteration of the train's continuous journey.
Bringing my old memories back
Triggering of memories through the persistent movement of the train.
Making hobo blood boil in my veins
Reaffirmation of intense emotions linked to trains.
Reviving my old love affair with trains
Rekindling of the deep emotional connection with trains.
That train keeps coming down the track
Continuation of the train's journey and its impact on memories.
Bringing my old memories back
Perpetuation of memories through the ongoing movement of the train.
Making hobo blood boil in my veins
Intense emotions resurface as the train keeps coming.
Reviving my old love affair with trains
Renewal of the deep emotional connection with trains.
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