After Be-Bop-A-Lula had become a huge hit in 1956 (peaking at #7 and spending 20 weeks in the Billboard Pop Chart), Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps (often mis-named as 'the' Blue Caps) were unable to follow it up with the same level of commercial success, but released critically acclaimed songs like Race With The Devil (#96 in Billboard) and Bluejean Bop (#49).
Following a visit to Europe in 1959, Vincent managed to attract a new huge and discerning audience there, especially in England and France. By that time his career had mostly ended in the US. In 1960, while on tour in Britain, Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were seriously injured in a high-speed traffic accident. Vincent broke his ribs, collarbone, and added further damage to his already weak leg which he had injured in a motorcycle accident in 1955 and refused to have amputated, and Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis. Both Vincent and Sheeley survived, but the accident killed Vincent's tourmate and Sheeley's fiancé, Eddie Cochran.
Vincent subsequently moved to England in 1963. His stage shows became "must see" events and his bands through those years were to spawn some of the most respected players in the world today. It was during his early tours of Britain that he adopted the trademark leather outfit, at the suggestion of British Rock 'n' Roll impressario, Jack Good.
Lonesome Whistle
Gene Vincent Lyrics
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Headin' south from Caroline
I heard that lonesome whistle blow
Got in trouble had to roam
Left my gal and left my home
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.
Just a kid actin' smart
I guess I was too young to know
They took me off the Georgia Main
Locked me to a ball and chain
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.
All alone I bear the shame
I'm a number not a name
I heard that lonesome whistle blow
All I do is sit and cry
When the ev'ning train goes by
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.
I'll be locked here in this cell
'Til my body's just a shell
And my hair turns whiter than the snow
I'll never see that gal of mine
Lord, I'm in Georgia, doin' time
I heard that lonesome whistle blow
The lyrics to Gene Vincent's song Lonesome Whistle tell the story of a man who is weighed down by the consequences of his actions. He rode on a train called Number Nine heading to the south from Caroline when he heard the lonesome whistle blow. He left his home and his girl behind and got into trouble which made him roam. Eventually, he ended up in jail which he expresses his regret about. He was young and made a mistake which led to his punishment. He sits in his cell, bearing shame and longing for the girl he left behind. When the evening train goes by and that lonesome whistle blows, he breaks down, lamenting his past decisions that brought him to his current situation.
The lyrics are a reflection of the common theme of regret and consequences of past actions in country and blues music. The lonesome whistle serves as a metaphor for the man's sorrow and isolation, emphasizing his loneliness and longing. The use of train imagery is typical of blues and country music, conjuring up the idea of drifting aimlessly and leaving one's troubles behind. The man's despair and sadness is palpable in the lyrics, and the haunting melody with its mournful harmonica adds to the overall feeling of melancholy.
Line by Line Meaning
I was ridin' Number Nine
I was on a train called Number Nine.
Headin' south from Caroline
I was going in the southern direction from Caroline.
I heard that lonesome whistle blow
I heard the whistle of the train, which made me feel lonely.
Got in trouble had to roam
I got into trouble and had to leave the place.
Left my gal and left my home
I had to leave my girlfriend and my home because of the trouble.
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.
The loneliness of the whistle reminded me of the trouble I was in and had to leave behind my loved ones.
Just a kid actin' smart
I was a young man trying to act smart like an adult, but I was just a kid.
I went and broke my darlin's heart
I hurt my girlfriend's feelings deeply.
I guess I was too young to know
Maybe I was too young to understand the consequences of my actions.
They took me off the Georgia Main
I was taken off the Georgia Main, a train track in Georgia.
Locked me to a ball and chain
I was imprisoned and made to wear a heavy ball and chain as a symbol of my imprisonment.
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.
The loneliness of the whistle reminded me of my imprisonment and the mistakes that led me there.
All alone I bear the shame
I am all alone in my cell, bearing the shame of my actions that led me to prison.
I'm a number not a name
I am not recognized as a person, but rather just a number in the prison system.
I heard that lonesome whistle blow
The loneliness of the whistle reminds me that I am all alone in my cell, with nothing but my thoughts, regrets, and the sound of the train in the distance.
All I do is sit and cry
All I can do is sit in my cell and cry, with nothing to look forward to.
When the ev'ning train goes by
When the evening train goes by, I am reminded of what I have lost and can never have again.
I heard that lonesome whistle blow.
The loneliness of the whistle makes me feel even more alone and trapped in my cell.
I'll be locked here in this cell
I will be imprisoned and locked in this cell for a long time.
'Til my body's just a shell
Until I die or deteriorate to the point of being just a shell of my former self.
And my hair turns whiter than the snow
My hair will turn white from the stress of being in prison, illustrating how much time has passed.
I'll never see that gal of mine
I will never see my girlfriend again.
Lord, I'm in Georgia, doin' time
I am in Georgia, serving my sentence.
I heard that lonesome whistle blow
The loneliness of the whistle reminds me of my misfortune and regrets.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JIMMIE DAVIS, HANK WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind