Hobo Bill's Last Ride
Jimmie Rodgers Lyrics


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Riding on the eastbound freight train, speeding through the night
Hobo Bill the railroad bum was fighting for his life
The sadness of his eyes revealed the torture of his soul
He raised a weak and weary hand to brush away the coal

No warm lights flickered round him, no blankets there to fold
Nothing but the howling wind, the driving rain so cold
When he heard a whistle blowing in a dreamy kind of way
The hobo seemed contented for he smile there where he lay

Outside the rain was falling on that lonely boxcar door
But the little form of Hobo Bill lay still upon the floor
As the train sped through the darkness and the raging storm outside
No one knew that Hobo Bill was taking his last ride

It was early in the morning when they raised the hobo's head
The smile still lingered on his face but Hobo Bill was dead

There was no mother's longing to soothe his weary soul
For he was just a railroad bum who died out in the cold

Overall Meaning

The song "Hobo Bill's Last Ride" by Jimmie Rodgers is a touching story of a railroad hobo who is fighting for his life on an eastbound freight train. The lyrics describe the sad and tortured soul of Hobo Bill, who has nothing but the howling wind and driving rain to keep him company as he clings to life. The sadness in his eyes is a reflection of the pain that he has endured as a homeless wanderer.


As the train speeds through the darkness and the raging storm outside, Hobo Bill hears a whistle blowing in a dreamy kind of way. This seems to comfort him, and he smiles where he lays on the cold, hard floor of the boxcar. As the rain falls outside, Hobo Bill takes his last ride, passing away quietly in the company of the howling wind.


Despite his lonely death, there is a sense of peace in the final moments of Hobo Bill's life. His smile lingers on his face as the train speeds toward its unknown destination. Hobo Bill may have been just a railroad bum to most people, but his death at the hands of the elements is a reminder of the struggles and hardships that many homeless people face each day.


Line by Line Meaning

Riding on the eastbound freight train, speeding through the night
Hobo Bill was traveling on a train heading eastward in the darkness of the night


Hobo Bill the railroad bum was fighting for his life
The homeless drifter, referred to as Hobo Bill, was struggling to stay alive


The sadness of his eyes revealed the torture of his soul
Expressions on his eyes showed the immense emotional pain he was going through


He raised a weak and weary hand to brush away the coal
His powerlessness was evident as he could barely lift his hand to clear off the soot


No warm lights flickered round him, no blankets there to fold
There was nothing but dark and cold as he had no shelter or cover


Nothing but the howling wind, the driving rain so cold
The harsh environment had only the wind and rain that accentuated the coldness


When he heard a whistle blowing in a dreamy kind of way
He envisioned the sound of the train whistle in his subconscious state


The hobo seemed contented for he smile there where he lay
Despite his hopeless situation, he appeared contended and smiled where he lay


Outside the rain was falling on that lonely boxcar door
Raindrops were tapping on the abandoned freight's door making it more solitary


But the little form of Hobo Bill lay still upon the floor
Hobo Bill's lifeless body was motionless on the cold, hard surface


As the train sped through the darkness and the raging storm outside
The train continued to rush uncontrollably through the darkness despite the tempest outside


No one knew that Hobo Bill was taking his last ride
Nobody realized that he was breathing his very last, hopeless and lonely moments


It was early in the morning when they raised the hobo's head
It was early dawn, and they decided to check Hobo Bill's condition


The smile still lingered on his face but Hobo Bill was dead
Although he had passed away, he had a peaceful smile that remained on his lifeless face


There was no mother's longing to soothe his weary soul
Hobo Bill did not have the comfort of anyone to soothe his spirit in his final moments


For he was just a railroad bum who died out in the cold
Sadly, Hobo Bill's life and his passing were of no consequence as he was just another homeless person who died alone in the cold




Lyrics ยฉ Peermusic Publishing
Written by: WALDO O'NEAL

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@kaushikrahman448

Hobo Bill-why
Riding on that eastbound freight train speeding through the night
Hobo Bill a railroad bum was fighting for his life
The sadness of his eyes revealed the torture of his soul
He raised a weak and weary hand to brush away the cold
Hobo Bill
No warm lights flickered round him no blankets there to hold
Nothing but the howling wind and the driving rain so cold
When he heard a whistle blowing in a dreamy kind of way
The hobo seemed contented for he smiled there where he lay
Hobo Bill
Outside the rain was falling on that lonely boxcar door
But the little form of Hobo Bill lay still upon the floor
While the train sped through the darkness and the raging storm outside
No one knew that Hobo Bill was taking his last ride
It was early in the morning when they raised the hobo's head
The smile still lingered on his face but Hobo Bill was dead
There was no mother's longing to soothe his weary soul
For he was just a railroad bum who died out in the cold



All comments from YouTube:

@snakemansnakes1

I was a kid in Liverpool UK and my grandfather rebuilt an old windup gramophone for my 12th. birthday. We had some old acetate 78's which we used to play for laughs. (military marches and some old Hawaiianย music.) ย One day I was at a loose end and found myself walking down a back alley behind my home. It was the day the local binman was calling to empty bins and some houses had put some stuff out, ย just next to their bins. I spotted a 78 record in it's original cardboard cover and I took it home. it was clean and in good condition. I played it on the old windup and it was Jimmie Rodgers ย singing Hobo Bill's Last Ride. I was mesmerised and had never heard anything like his mournful singing and yodelling. Some years later on I was in the British Army in Germany. There was an American Airforce outfit at our base and they had a services shop much like the British NAAFI. I was, by then a country music fan and this USAF shop stocked imported country music. I went there regularly to buy stuff. Jim Reeves, Hank Snow, Web Peirce, Hank Thompson, Ferlin Huskey, Hank Locklin, and Marty Robbins. I built up a good collection. I never forgot Jimmie Rodgers though and I was over the moon when I found some new RCA imports at the shop- A whole new remastering of Jimmies output had been reissued onto L.P's and I got the lot! ย Still got them all today, though I have JR on CD's now. I still have that old 78 I found too, a treasured item that started me off on a long and happy musical education. Many thanks for posting this song.

@snakemansnakes1

Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

@snakemansnakes1

Many thanks for that little story Buzz.Fascinating stuff. Those tracks are ย great ones.. Gambling Barroom Blues is a favourite I love the mournful sound Jimmy managed to create on that recording.

@snakemansnakes1

I'm also a fan of Merle Haggard (RIP) and his Jimmie Rodgers tribute album was exceptional. Still available on CD. Same Train A Different Time. A favourite on that one is California Blues.
ย 

@mmmbrunommm3

Thanks for sharing your story, pretty interesting. This man has fans all over the world

@psychobillymaddog5466

Belfast ni.

18 More Replies...

@Potemkin0

Simply brilliant. Today's so-called 'celebrities' could learn a great deal from such an unpretentious performer

@daveerickson9524

they could but they can't and won't

@scottwallace3549

I'm only 59 so I can't say for sure that this was the best song ever written, but it's definitely on my short list.

@lyonsdenno1

If that song doesn't break your heart or cause a tear to flow you don't have a heart-have heard this all my life and I can still imagine Hobo Bill ย on that train.

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