Hobo Blues
Jeff Beck / Earl Green / Richard Bailey / David Hadley Lyrics
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I took a freight train to be my friend, oh Lord
You know I hobo'd, hobo'd, hobo'd, hobo'd
Hobo'd a long, long way from home, oh Lord
You know my mother, she followed me that mornin', me that mornin', that mornin'
She followed me down to the yard, oh Lord
Yes, he's gone in a poor some wear, oh Lord"
Yes, I left my dear old mother, dear old mother, dear old mother
I left my honor, need a crime, oh Lord
You know I hobo'd, hobo'd, hobo'd, hobo'd
Hobo'd a long, long way from home, oh Lord
The lyrics to Hobo Blues are about being a hobo, someone who travels by hopping on freight trains and living a nomadic lifestyle. The singer initially sees the train as a friend, something that can take them away from their troubles and give them a sense of freedom. However, the singer's mother disapproves of this lifestyle and follows them to the train yard to try and convince them to come home. The singer ultimately chooses to leave home and live as a hobo, abandoning their mother and their honor in the process.
The theme of the song is one of longing for freedom and adventure, but at the same time the cost of that freedom is the loss of stability and familial ties. The repetition of the phrase "hobo'd a long, long way from home" emphasizes how far removed the singer is from their former life, and the regretful tone of the lyrics suggest that the singer is not entirely satisfied with their decision to leave everything behind.
Line by Line Meaning
When I first thought to hobo'in, hobo'in
As soon as I had the notion to become a hobo
I took a freight train to be my friend, oh Lord
I relied on the convenience of catching rides on freight trains
You know I hobo'd, hobo'd, hobo'd, hobo'd
I traveled long distances as a hobo
Hobo'd a long, long way from home, oh Lord
I wandered far from where I came from
You know my mother, she followed me that mornin', me that mornin', that mornin'
My mother trailed me on the day I set off
She followed me down to the yard, oh Lord
She pursued me until I left for the train yard
She said, "my son he's gone, he's gone, he's gone, he's gone
She lamented the fact that her son had left
Yes, he's gone in a poor some wear, oh Lord"
She worried about my unfortunate circumstances
Yes, I left my dear old mother, dear old mother, dear old mother
I abandoned my loving mother
I left my honor, need a crime, oh Lord
I lost my sense of integrity and self-respect
You know I hobo'd, hobo'd, hobo'd, hobo'd
I journeyed endlessly as a wandering vagrant
Hobo'd a long, long way from home, oh Lord
I roamed a great distance from my place of origin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNARD BESMAN, JOHN LEE HOOKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jayberwocky1
that's a helluva first take, man... serious groove you guys got going on.
@RolandHemeleers
Excellent !
@frogeregis
J'Adore !!!
@dhadleyray
Thanks for mentioning me in the credits.. Too many folks always forget the bass player! ;)
@zepaulogl
Bons músicos não podem ser esquecidos.
Good musicians can not be forgotten.
@dhadleyray
mucho gracias..
@dhadleyray
dhadleyray I almost forgot to mention.. We were doing a line check and this is the first time we played the song. When we finished getting the levels.. They decided to just keep the track of us on the first take.
@pjsvenska3338
bass players always were my faves ^^
@Extrikit
Hoblow by Blow
@dhadleyray
Thanks for listing my name on this..