His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.
Last Train
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
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Won't need to get yourself prepared
When you're on that last train for glory
You'll know you're reasonably there
Maybe you ain't walked on any highway
You've just been flyin' in the air
But if you're on that last train to glory
Maybe you've been lying down in the jailhouse
Maybe you are hungry and poor
Maybe your ticket on the last train to glory
Is the stranger who is sleeping on your floor
I ain't a man of constant sorrow
I ain't seen trouble all day long
We are only passengers on the last train to glory
That will soon be long, long gone
I want to hop on the last train in the station
Won't need to get yourself prepared
When you're on the last train to glory
You'll know you're reasonably there
Arlo Guthrie's Last Train is a song that could be interpreted in different ways depending on the listener's point of view. One way to understand the song is to view it from the perspective of a journey towards salvation. The last train in the station is a metaphor for the last chance for redemption or spiritual fulfillment. The lyrics suggest that it doesn't matter what situation you are in, whether you are wealthy or poor, hungry or not, as long as you hop on that last train to glory, you will know that you are reasonably close to your goal.
Furthermore, the song could also be interpreted in relation to life's journey. The idea of the last train to glory could be seen as a call to action in living an intentional life. The song suggests that regardless of the choices one makes in life, at any moment, there is always a chance for redemption, and it is up to the individual to make the most of that chance. As such, the lyrics could be a call to live purposefully and seize every opportunity that life presents.
In conclusion, Last Train by Arlo Guthrie is a powerful and introspective song that encourages listeners to live a purposeful life and keep an eye out for opportunities for redemption.
Line by Line Meaning
I want to hop on the last train in the station
I want to be on the final journey of life where I can attain salvation
Won't need to get yourself prepared
No need to prepare or pack for the journey because it's the final one
When you're on that last train for glory
When you are on the path to heaven, the final destination
You'll know you're reasonably there
You'll feel that you are very near to your ultimate goal
Maybe you ain't walked on any highway
Maybe you haven't explored the world, haven't travelled enough
You've just been flyin' in the air
You may have lived your life free, without any restrictions or limitations
But if you're on that last train to glory
However, if you are on the path to heaven, the final destination
You'll know you must have paid your fare
You'll be aware that you have earned your place in heaven through your good deeds
Maybe you've been lying down in the jailhouse
Maybe you have been in trouble, or maybe you have sinned
Maybe you are hungry and poor
Maybe your life hasn't been easy or comfortable
Maybe your ticket on the last train to glory
Maybe the path to heaven is the only way out of your current situation
Is the stranger who is sleeping on your floor
Maybe someone you have helped or given shelter to could be the gateway to your salvation
I ain't a man of constant sorrow
I am not always unhappy or in pain
I ain't seen trouble all day long
I have not faced difficulties or hardships today
We are only passengers on the last train to glory
We are all in this together, we are all on the journey to heaven
That will soon be long, long gone
The journey will come to an end very soon, and we must be prepared for it
I want to hop on the last train in the station
I want to be among the ones who attain salvation, who are on the path to heaven
Won't need to get yourself prepared
We don't need to prepare for the journey that takes us to the ultimate goal
When you're on the last train to glory
When you are on the path to heaven, you'll know that you are very near to your destination
You'll know you're reasonably there
You'll feel that you are very near to your ultimate goal
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL MAURICE KELLY, PETER CROSBIE, ANGELIQUE COOPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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