Longtime LRB band member, multi-award winning banjo picker and Virginia Country Music Hall of Famer, Sammy Shelor has put together a wealth of talent that includes: Brandon Rickman (lead vocals and rhythm guitar); Mike Hartgrove (fiddle); Barry Reed (bass and harmony vocals); and Randy Jones (mandolin and lead & harmony vocals) all performing the distinctive LRB sound fans love.
Lonesome River Band has four albums on the Rural Rhythm Records label including: STILL LEARNING (June 2011) that included two chart singles, “Record Time Machine” and “Jack Up the Jail”; NO TURNING BACK (the first CD on the Rural Rhythm label and their 12th career album) that included the hit single, “Them Blues”; and two live albums, THE ALL-STAR JAM LIVE AT GRAVES MOUNTAIN and the 2011 album, LIVE AT BEAN BLOSSOM, A BILL MONROE CELEBRATION that was produced by Sammy Shelor.
Lonesome River Band’s long career is obviously filled with a multitude of Awards and Recognitions including the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) honoring the group with numerous awards for Album of the Year and topping it off with an amazing four-time award wins for Shelor as IBMA Banjo Performer of the Year. The group has also received recognition by SPBGMA for numerous Bluegrass Band of Year wins, Vocal Group of the Year, Song of the Year and Shelor as Banjo Player of the Year.
2011 was a tremendous year for the band, with Sammy Shelor receiving the 2nd Annual Steve Martin Prize for Excellence in Banjo and Lonesome River Band receiving five 2011 IBMA nominations including Album of the Year for their participation on The All-Star Jam: Live At Graves Mountain on the Rural Rhythm label (released in 2010). They received two nods for Instrumental Recorded performance of the Year for “Pretty Little Girl,” on the album, Still Learning (Rural Rhythm), and also for band members Sammy Shelor, Brandon Rickman and Mike Hartgrove’s work on “Ground Speed,” by The Rural Rhythm All-Stars (Rural Rhythm). The band also received a Recorded Event of the Year nomination for the song, “Graves Mountain Memories,” recorded by the Rural Rhythm All-Stars (including Sammy Shelor and Mike Hartgrove) on The All-Star Jam: Live at Graves Mountain album; and band leader Sammy Shelor was nominated for Banjo Player of the Year, an award he received four consecutive years from 1995-1998,” International Bluegrass Association.
In 2010, Shelor was again nominated the IBMA Banjo Performer of the Year award. In 2009, LRB received nominations for the 2009 Instrumental Performance of the Year (Struttin to Ferrum); nomination for Gospel Performance of the Year (Darkness Wept); and Sammy Shelor’s nomination for Banjo Performer of the Year. LRB opened the 2009 IBMA Awards Show at the Ryman Auditorium with a tremendous and extremely well received performance. In 2008, they were chosen as an IBMA Showcase Artist and the band regularly performs at the popular IBMA Fan Fest at the yearly convention.
Hobo Blues
Lonesome River Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got a train to catch a mile on down the track
Well, I've been hangin' around this old town way too many days
I got to ramble on, I must be on my way
I got the Hobo Blues......
I gotta go, gotta go, God, I got the Hobo Blues
And when I hear that whistle blow, son
Well, some women try to hold me, but I keep on movin' on
Well, my hat don't hang nowhere for too long
Cause I'm caught up in the feeling of that same ol' great train song
I got the Hobo Blues deep down in my bones
When I die, won't you bury me in an old box car
With a coffee can and my old guitar
But make sure that I'm close enough to hear that passin' train
I got the freight train fever chuggin' through my veins
The song "Hobo Blues" by Lonesome River Band tells the story of a restless traveler who has the itch to hit the road. The songwriter speaks from the perspective of a hobo, who has no particular destination in mind, and is always on the lookout for his next adventure. This is evident when he says, "I got a train to catch a mile on down the track," indicating that he doesn't care where the train is headed, as long as he's moving. He feels like he has stayed in one place for too long and must continue his journey. The repetitive use of "I gotta go, gotta go, God, I got the Hobo Blues," highlights the restlessness he feels.
The hobo shares his experience with love and relationships by saying, "Well, some women try to hold me, but I keep on movin' on." He doesn't let attachment hinder his travel and is always eager to leave. He wants to be buried in a box car when he dies so that he can be close to the passing train, his ultimate passion. Overall, the song portrays the wanderlust of a hobo and his love for travel with no strings attached.
Line by Line Meaning
Got a hole in my pocket, I've done packed my ol' knapsack
I have a hole in my pocket and I have packed my old knapsack.
I got a train to catch a mile on down the track
I have to catch a train some distance away from where I am.
Well, I've been hangin' around this old town way too many days
I have spent too many days in this town.
I got to ramble on, I must be on my way
I need to leave now and move on.
I got the Hobo Blues......
I am feeling the sadness and restlessness of a wandering person without a home.
I gotta go, gotta go, God, I got the Hobo Blues
I really have to leave now because I feel the restless and melancholic emotions of a drifter.
And when I hear that whistle blow, son
When I hear the sound of the train horn blowing,
I gotta move, gotta move, God, I got the Hobo Blues
I have to keep moving because I feel the sadness and longing of a wandering person without a home.
Well, some women try to hold me, but I keep on movin' on
Although some women try to make me stay, I always keep moving.
Well, my hat don't hang nowhere for too long
I don't stay in one place for very long.
Cause I'm caught up in the feeling of that same ol' great train song
I am captivated by the feeling of that familiar train song.
I got the Hobo Blues deep down in my bones
I feel the restlessness of a wandering soul very deeply.
When I die, won't you bury me in an old box car
When I die, please bury me in an old rail freight car.
With a coffee can and my old guitar
Place a coffee can and my old guitar beside me.
But make sure that I'm close enough to hear that passin' train
Ensure that I am buried close enough to hear the sound of the train passing by.
I got the freight train fever chuggin' through my veins
I am filled with an excitement and passion for the movement of the freight train coursing through my veins.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILLY SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Timothy Smith
This groups sound pretty much changed the way I see, hear, & do things musically. Unbelievable talent. They appeared to be having fun doing what they love.
Kent Barger
I wish they were still together but Sammy is the only one still in the group today
Jerry Simpson
I had the privilege to go to one of their concerts many years ago in Charlottesville va. I gave them 5 stars and still do !
Stanford Greer
I saw them do this in Wichita, KS. It was my favorite song from the entire bluegrass festival. I got inspired by that song to go out and get my own Telecaster and a Les Paul too. I still play bluegrass, but I've added lots to my abilities, thanks to this song.
Lillian Bogle
OMG! Look at Dan Tyminski & Ronnie Bowman! I love this song!
Banjo40
I remember sitting in the cold rain at English Park in Owensboro in the early nineties watching this lineup blow the crowd away...man I miss those times! Thanks for posting these Tim.
Rex Wayne
There was no audience ... they were in a studio ... And damn SON .... they were tearin' it up ... love it !
KFoxArt
This song rocks.
Kevin V Lowe
That was the best band right there, they was my favorite.
D. Scott
Mixing the sound of the more modern strat with the mandolin and acoustic, eargasm.