Waiting for a Train
Boz Scaggs And Duane Allman Lyrics
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Waiting for a train
A thousand miles away from home
Sleeping in the rain
I walked up to a brakeman
To give him a line of talk
He says "If you've got the money
I haven't got a nickel
Not a penny I can show
"Get off, get off, you railroad bum"
He slammed the boxcar door
He put me off in Texas
A state I dearly love
The wide open spaces all around me
The moon and stars up above
Nobody seems to want me
Or lend me a helping hand
I'm on my way from Frisco
I'm going to Dixie land
Though my pocketbook is empty
And my heart is full of pain
I'm a thousand miles away from home
Just waiting for a train
The lyrics of this song, written by Jimmie Rodgers and first recorded by him in 1928, tell the story of a drifter who is stranded at some unknown location, waiting for a train to take him to his next destination. He is broke and desperate, having no money to his name, and he turns to the brakeman on the train for help. The brakeman is unsympathetic to his plight, telling him to get off the train, and the drifter is left alone in Texas, feeling hopeless and alone.
Despite his desperation, the drifter is captivated by the beauty of the landscape around him. He describes the wide open spaces, the moon and stars above, and the sense of freedom that he feels despite his dire circumstances. He longs for someone to lend him a helping hand, but nobody seems willing to do so. He is forced to rely on his own resourcefulness and resilience, hoping that a train will come soon and take him away from his troubles.
The lyrics of this song are evocative of the struggles that many people face when they are down on their luck and facing difficult circumstances. They speak to the universal human experience of feeling alone and helpless, but also to the resilience and determination that can help us get through hard times.
Line by Line Meaning
All around the water tank
The singer is describing their surroundings, which includes a water tank.
Waiting for a train
The singer is waiting for a train to arrive.
A thousand miles away from home
The singer is far from their home, having traveled a great distance.
Sleeping in the rain
The artist is sleeping outdoors, despite the rain.
I walked up to a brakeman
The artist approached a railroad employee known as a brakeman.
To give him a line of talk
The singer wanted to engage the brakeman in conversation.
He says "If you've got the money
The brakeman responds to the singer's statement by mentioning that money is required to ride the train.
I'll see that you don't walk"
The brakeman will ensure the artist is able to ride the train
I haven't got a nickel
The artist has no money to offer the brakeman.
Not a penny I can show
The artist doesn't have any money at all.
"Get off, get off, you railroad bum"
The brakeman orders the singer to leave, calling them a bum who rides the train illegally.
He slammed the boxcar door
The brakeman closes the door to the train car to prevent the artist from entering.
He put me off in Texas
The brakeman puts the singer off the train in Texas.
A state I dearly love
The singer likes Texas very much.
The wide open spaces all around me
The singer is describing the scenery, which includes open spaces.
The moon and stars up above
The artist is under a clear sky with a visible moon and stars.
Nobody seems to want me
The artist is feeling isolated and alone, a sense that nobody cares about them.
Or lend me a helping hand
No one offers to assist the singer in their travels.
I'm on my way from Frisco
The singer is traveling away from San Francisco.
I'm going to Dixie land
The artist is heading to the southern United States, often referred to as Dixie Land.
Though my pocketbook is empty
The artist has no money.
And my heart is full of pain
The artist is feeling sad and depressed.
I'm a thousand miles away from home
The singer is far from their home, having traveled a great distance.
Just waiting for a train
The artist is waiting for a train to arrive so they can continue their journey.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JIMMIE RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@carlkuss
I used to sing this to myself quite a bit. It helped me come to terms with my fragility and keep my serenity.
@peterjanka2921
Written by the late great Jimmy Rodger’s I believe. Good stuff!😎👍🍻
@marsharupe8112
The late legendary slide guitar player Duane Allman on guitar.
@paulsmallriver6066
This album is in my top dozen greatest.
@julietate9310
".... the moon and stars up above...." listen to how the slide goes up on this part. Amazing!
@ronnie5129
Hello, Thanks for the video, and the song,.. This Song Is Awesome, Boz & Duane together , They Both Had Their Heads In The Same Place When They Played , They Were A Team, I Think that Eventually Down The Road Boz could Have Been A Member Of The Allman Bros. Band, He Just Fit In, Cousin Figel
@j.rollinsbrunson3671
Cousin Figel, Just saw Boz in concert in April, in Jacksonville Florida, where Duane & Gregg grew up after their dad was killed. The Boz was great ! The crowd kept cheering till he came back out for 4 curtain calls ! His final song of the night was a song he & Duane recorded called "Somebody loan me a dime" an awesome blues song ! It's on utube if you haven't heard it... Props to Boz for remembering Duane in his "home town" !!
@jlanza227559
nice artists for a first pic...great song too
@johnj510
I love your choice of photos, so simple yet complete, great job!
@Xallman
Great pics!! Thanks for sharing.