Perhaps best known for his distinct yodelling, he charted more than seventy singles on the Billboard country charts from 1950 until 1980, including the Number One hits 'I'm Movin' On' and 'I Don't Hurt Anymore'. Performing in lavish and colourful sequin-studded suits, Snow had a career covering six decades during which he sold more than 80 million albums, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1979.
THERE IS A HANK SNOW MUSEUM CLOSE TO BROOKLYN IN LIVERPOOL, NOVA SCOTIA, APPROPRIATELY, IT IS HOUSED IN AN ABANDONED TRAIN STATION. VERY WELL DONE
I reckon Hank Snow was better known for his distinctive self taught guitar style. Hank was influenced by the famous Rail road blues singer Jimmie Rodgers and though Hank did copy Rodgers style in his early days, including the "blue yodel" he later abandoned this and developed his own gritty style of singing. His guitar playing was so good he once cut a duet album of guitar music with the late Chet Atkins, master country Guitarist and music producer for RCA Victor. Hank was with RCA Victor label for almost 50 years and towards the end of his waning career RCA dropped him, just before he would have celebrated his half century with that label-always thought that was a bit mean of them.. Hank Snow and his Rainbow ranch boys, with Chubby Hayes on fiddle gave really great live concerts and the singing and playing they did was superlative and sounded as good as, if not equal to their recorded works.
Hobo's Meditation
Hank Snow Lyrics
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What will become of the hobo whenever his time comes to die
Has the Master up yonder in heaven got a place that we might call our home
Will we have to work for a living or must we continue to roam
Will there be any freight trains in heaven any boxcars in which we might hide
Will there be any tough cops and brakemen will they tell us that we cannot ride
Will the hobo chum with the rich man will we always have money to spare
Will they hand respect for a hobo in that land that lies hidden up there
Will there be any freight trains...
In Hank Snow's "Hobo's Meditation," the singer is depicting his thoughts as he lies on a boxcar waiting for a train to pass by. He ponders the fate of the hobo, questioning whether there is a place for them in heaven after their passing. He questions if the Master in heaven has provided a home for them, or if they will keep wandering for all eternity. The singer thinks about the possibility of freight trains and boxcars in heaven, where they might hide and seek shelter as they do on earth. He also wonders if they will be met with the same challenges as they are in life, such as tough cops and brakemen who prevent them from riding. The singer even questions if hobos will be respected in the afterlife, or if they will still face discrimination based on their transient lifestyle.
The song is a poignant reflection on the life of a hobo, who lives on the fringes of society, without a solid place to call home. It speaks to the transient nature of life and raises questions about the meaning of existence for those who have chosen a life on the rails.
Line by Line Meaning
Tonight as I lay on a boxcar just waiting for a train to pass by
As I lay on a boxcar, waiting for a train to come by, I wonder about the fate of the hobo.
What will become of the hobo whenever his time comes to die
When the time comes for a hobo to die, what happens to them?
Has the Master up yonder in heaven got a place that we might call our home
Will there be a home for hobos in heaven, provided by a higher power?
Will we have to work for a living or must we continue to roam
In heaven, will hobos be required to work or will they be able to continue their wandering ways?
Will there be any freight trains in heaven any boxcars in which we might hide
Will there be a place for hobos to hide in heaven, like they do in the boxcars of freight trains?
Will there be any tough cops and brakemen will they tell us that we cannot ride
In heaven, will there be authorities who will prevent hobos from riding on trains?
Will the hobo chum with the rich man will we always have money to spare
In heaven, will hobos be able to befriend wealthy individuals, and will they always have money?
Will they hand respect for a hobo in that land that lies hidden up there
Will hobos be respected in heaven, in that hidden land?
Will there be any freight trains...
The song repeats the earlier questions about hobos in heaven.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JIMMIE RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Keith Kimmey Sr
I love this version by Hank thanks a lot,Keith