Special
Charley Pride Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The only thing I really own is what you see me wearing on my back
The only friends I've ever known are the kind you meet along a railroad track
The kind you bum tobacco from and view the world through a boxcar door
A friend who talks and makes you laugh has nothing much but gives you half

And maybe you don't see him anymore
Special I hear your lonesome whistle whine
It's calling me Special keep moving me on down the line
My mackinaw is full of holes and ain't too good at keepin' out the cold

My shoes are worn as paper thin my feet can feel the cinders through the soles
Sometimes I see a pretty girl and wonder what I've missed along the way
Once someone special wore my ring and loved me more than anything
I gave her up and caught a train one day





Special I had a special girl one time
Now she's not mine Special keep moving me on down the line

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Charley Pride's song Special reflect the life of a wanderer who travels alone along the railroad tracks. The singer is a penniless drifter who has no possessions except the clothes on his back. He has no permanent friends, only the transient kind who he meets while hitching a ride on a boxcar. He relies on these companions for small favors like sharing a smoke and for moments of companionship and laughter that can alleviate the loneliness of the road. The singer has no roots or ties to any place or person, and his life is a perpetual journey moving him further down the line.


The song also alludes to a lost love. The singer remembers a time when he had someone special in his life. He had loved her, but he gave it all up one day and caught a train. Now, he regrets the decision he made, and wonders about what could have been. The singer's experience of passing up on love for the sake of wanderlust is a common theme in country music. The song's message is bittersweet, offering a melancholic reflection that sometimes the choices we make stay with us.


Line by Line Meaning

The only thing I really own is what you see me wearing on my back
I don't own much except the clothes on my back


The only friends I've ever known are the kind you meet along a railroad track
I've met my best friends while traveling by train


The kind you bum tobacco from and view the world through a boxcar door
We share a smoke and watch the world go by from the open boxcar door


A friend who talks and makes you laugh has nothing much but gives you half
My friend may not have much, but he's always willing to share and make me laugh


And maybe you don't see him anymore
I may have lost touch with my friend


Special I hear your lonesome whistle whine
I hear the train's whistle calling me


It's calling me Special keep moving me on down the line
The train is urging me to keep traveling


My mackinaw is full of holes and ain't too good at keepin' out the cold
My coat is worn and doesn't keep me warm enough


My shoes are worn as paper thin my feet can feel the cinders through the soles
My shoes are so worn that my feet feel the ground underneath them


Sometimes I see a pretty girl and wonder what I've missed along the way
I sometimes think about what my life would have been like if I had settled down with someone


Once someone special wore my ring and loved me more than anything
I was once engaged to a woman who loved me deeply


I gave her up and caught a train one day
I left her behind and decided to continue traveling


Special I had a special girl one time
I had a special woman in my life at one point


Now she's not mine Special keep moving me on down the line
But she's no longer mine, so I must continue traveling




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BILL RICE, JERRY FOSTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Pondy Hsu

The only thing I really own
Is what you see me wearing on my back
The only friends I've ever known
Are the kind you meet along a railroad track

The kind you bum tabacco from
View the world through a boxcar door
A friend who talks and makes you laugh
Has nothing much but gives you half
Maybe you don't see him anymore

Special, I hear your lonesome whistle
While It's calling me
Special, keep moving me on down the line
+++++++++++++
Ain't too good at keepin' out the cold
My shoes are worn as paper thin
My feet can feel the cinders through the soles

Sometimes I see a pretty girl
Wonder what I've missed along the way
Once someone special wore my ring
Loved me more than anything
I gave her up and caught a train one day

Special, I had a special girl one time
Now she's not mine
Special, keep moving me on down the line.....



All comments from YouTube:

hillbillymusic

I have vivid memories of the first time I heard the songs on this album. Mom had taken us to Nashville to see the Opry. There was a record store on the corner just around from where the Opry was. The album was playing over the speakers as we went into the store and I was in heaven seeing so many country albums. Naturally, I got this album. Able Bodied Man was and is still one of my favorites from this album.

Trey Stewart

Both great songs ! Charley Pride could sing country music Damn good! Him and George Jones and Hank Williams and Ernest Tubb are my favorites!

Pondy Hsu

The only thing I really own
Is what you see me wearing on my back
The only friends I've ever known
Are the kind you meet along a railroad track

The kind you bum tabacco from
View the world through a boxcar door
A friend who talks and makes you laugh
Has nothing much but gives you half
Maybe you don't see him anymore

Special, I hear your lonesome whistle
While It's calling me
Special, keep moving me on down the line
+++++++++++++
Ain't too good at keepin' out the cold
My shoes are worn as paper thin
My feet can feel the cinders through the soles

Sometimes I see a pretty girl
Wonder what I've missed along the way
Once someone special wore my ring
Loved me more than anything
I gave her up and caught a train one day

Special, I had a special girl one time
Now she's not mine
Special, keep moving me on down the line.....

Eileen Davey

Best singer ever we will miss you Charlie pride

bazthehandyman

When the cassette came out after the 8 track,this was the first i bought 'cos i heard Charlie on the radio and been hooked ever since.

W Wilcox

👍👍
One of my favorites from Charley!

Edward Bitto Jr

KEEP SMILING MR PRIDE, I LIKE YOUR MUSIC MAKING.

Michael Streeting

Awesome

Ron Patrizzi

LOVE THIS SONG JIUST FANTASTIC

Lisa Long

I love this number fantastic Mr pride rest in peace

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