La Bamba
Emmanuel Lyrics


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If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that I am gone, you can hear the whistle blow a hundred
A hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, you can hear the whistle blow a

Lord, I'm one, Lord, I'm two, Lord, I'm three, Lord, I'm four, Lord, I'm five hundred miles a way fr
Away from home, away from home, away from home, away from home, Lord, I'm five hundred miles away fr

Not a shirt on my back, not a penny to my name. Lord, I can't go back home this-a way
This-a way, this-a way, this-a way, this-a way, Lord, I can't go back home this-a way

If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that I am gone, you can hear the whistle blow a hundred
A hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, you can hear the whistle blow a





You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Emmanuel's song La Bamba is a classic example of a wandering man, who's left his home behind and is travelling on a train. It starts with a warning to those who might be left behind, and how they can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles away. The chorus repeats this phrase several times, perhaps emphasizing the finality of the situation, that once the train leaves the station, there is no going back.


In the next verse, the singer describes himself as being "five hundred miles away from home", emphasizing the distance he has travelled. He's lost everything, not even having a shirt on his back or a penny to his name. He can't go back home in the state he's in, perhaps suggesting that he's left home for good. The final repetition of the chorus brings the song to a close, and one can imagine the singer disappearing into the distance as the train continues on its journey.


Overall, the song evokes a sense of sadness and longing, but also a sense of adventure and freedom. The singer has taken a risk in leaving home behind, but he's also gained the freedom to travel and explore the world.


Line by Line Meaning

If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that I am gone, you can hear the whistle blow a hundred
If you don't catch this train with me, you'll realize I've left and the sound of the whistle blowing a hundred miles away will confirm it.


A hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, you can hear the whistle blow a
The distance between us is so great that you can hear the train's whistle blowing a hundred miles away, reminding you that I've left.


Lord, I'm one, Lord, I'm two, Lord, I'm three, Lord, I'm four, Lord, I'm five hundred miles away fr
I'm so far away from home that I feel like I'm a thousand different people - one, two, three, four, and five hundred miles away all at once.


Away from home, away from home, away from home, away from home, Lord, I'm five hundred miles away fr
I'm far from the comfort and familiarity of my home, emotionally feeling five hundred miles away from it.


Not a shirt on my back, not a penny to my name. Lord, I can't go back home this-a way
I'm destitute and have nothing to my name, and going home in this state is not an option for me.


This-a way, this-a way, this-a way, this-a way, Lord, I can't go back home this-a way
Meaning remains the same: I cannot go back home in this current state.


You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
The sound of the train's whistle remains audible from an extended distance, symbolizing that the singer's sadness and distance from home are deeply felt.




Contributed by Ryan N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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