Houndmouth is a collaborative folk rock four-member band, formed in 2011 fr… Read Full Bio ↴Houndmouth is a collaborative folk rock four-member band, formed in 2011 from the lowland plains and farmlands of Indiana, USA. The band's lyrics emphasize their foolhardiness, and their soulful harmonies carry far. Houndmouth consists of Matt Myers (guitar, vocals), Katie Toupin (keyboard, vocals), Zak Appleby (bass, vocals) and Shane Cody(drums, vocals). Folk duo Katie Toupin and Matt Myers (formerly of the Saint James Hotel) joined up with Shane Cody (Riffraff Revival) and Zak Appleby to create a colossal electric sound with bouncy half-time beats, punchy guitar riffs, and a bit of facial hair. They performed at SXSW in 2012 to promote their self-titled EP, and then were signed up by Rough Trade Records. The band have appeared on several major television shows, including Letterman and Conan.
First Album - From the Hills Below the City (2013) - Houndmouth's first studio album "From the Hills Below the City" was release on June 3, 2013.
Second Album - Little Neon Limelight (2015) - The band's second studio album, "Little Neon Limelight" was released on March 17, 2015

Houston Train
Houndmouth Lyrics

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Got me a postcard and a 20 dollar bill
Told you I'd meet you in Memphis if you bring me those pills
And I got high and I got dry for far to long
And the gypsy train to Houston is gonna take me along

They Called me a wild card
And they called me their fool
I told them id bring them their money if They get me back to you

And I got cash and I got robbed for all I own
And the gypsy train to Houston is gonna take me back home

I got clean and I got a steady job
No longer was I running from the emblems of the law
And I got clean and I got mean to the bone
And the gypsy train to Houston won't leave me alone

And the gypsy train to Houston won't leave me alone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Houndmouth's song Houston Train tell the tale of a troubled protagonist who, after getting caught up in a dangerous lifestyle involving drugs, money, and crime, finds himself on a journey to redemption. The first verse sets the stage for the story, with the singer receiving a postcard and money from someone who promises to meet him in Memphis with drugs. The lyrics suggest that the singer has been "high and dry for far too long," and that he sees the "gypsy train to Houston" as a means of escape and a chance to start anew.

As the song progresses, the singer faces numerous obstacles on his journey. He is called a "wild card" and a "fool" by others who don't believe in him, and he is robbed of everything he owns. Despite these setbacks, however, he manages to turn his life around. He gets clean and lands a steady job, and he even becomes "mean to the bone," suggesting that he is no longer willing to let others take advantage of him. However, despite his newfound success, the singer is haunted by the past and by the train that took him away from his troubles.

In many ways, the lyrics to Houston Train tell a classic American story of redemption and renewal. The train symbolizes both escape and an unstoppable force, and the singer's journey on it represents his struggle to leave behind his old life and start anew. The triumph over adversity and the ultimate sense of regret and longing for what was left behind make for a poignant and resonant narrative.

Line by Line Meaning

Got me a postcard and a 20 dollar bill
I have a postcard and some money

Told you I'd meet you in Memphis if you bring me those pills
I promised to meet you in Memphis if you bring me some pills

And I got high and I got dry for far to long
I used drugs and alcohol for a long time

And the gypsy train to Houston is gonna take me along
I'm taking the gypsy train to Houston

They Called me a wild card
They called me unpredictable

And they called me their fool
They called me stupid

I told them id bring them their money if They get me back to you
I promised to return the money if they helped me get to you

And I got cash and I got robbed for all I own
I had money and then I was robbed

And the gypsy train to Houston is gonna take me back home
I'm going back home on the gypsy train to Houston

I got clean and I got a steady job
I became sober and got a job

No longer was I running from the emblems of the law
I stopped running from the police