By the age of 12 Simpson was playing guitar and banjo. In 1970, Simpson dropped out of college to become a full-time professional musician, touring folk clubs. In 1976 he recorded his first solo album "Golden Vanity". In the same year he opened for Steeleye Span on their UK tour. Teaming up with June Tabor, a folk singer who didn't play an instrument, Simpson toured folk clubs and appeared at festivals. They recorded three albums together, highlighting each other's complementary talents. There was a fluid jazzy feel about their approach to traditional material.
In the 1980s he moved to America, originally to Ithaca, New York then to Santa Cruz and finally New Orleans.
Over the next ten years Simpson became more and more adventurous, playing blues, bluegrass, cajun and even Indian-inflected music. He released a series of albums right through the 1990s, eventually moving back to the UK.
In 2003 he teamed up with June Tabor again. A readers' poll of the magazine "Acoustic Guitar" voted him as number 12 in the world in 2005.
In 2007 Simpson released "Prodigal Son". The 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards voted it as best album. The fRoots critics poll voted it as the 7th best new album of 2007. It is a mixture of traditional songs and Simpson originals, the highlights of which possess a distinctly southern American flavor.
Simpson is now married to Kit Bailey, the daughter of the singer Roy Bailey, with whom Simpson occasionally performs. Martin and Kit now live in Sheffield and have a daughter.
Good Morning Mr Railroad Man
Martin Simpson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What time do your trains roll by?
"; At 9: 16 and 2: 44 and 25 minutes 'till 5";
"; At 9: 16 and 2: 44 and 25 minutes 'till 5";
Thank you, Mr. Railroad Man
I want to watch your trains go by
Standing on a platform, smoking a cheap cigar
Well, I pulled my hat down over my eyes
And I walked across the tracks
And I caught me the end of an old freight train
And I never did come back
Well, I sat down in a gamblin' game
But I could not play my hand
I was thinkin' about the woman I loved
Run away with another man, poor boy
Run away with another man
I was thinking about the woman that I loved
Run away with another man
The lyrics of Martin Simpson's song "Good Morning Mr. Railroad Man" evoke an image of a lonely, wandering traveler seeking comfort in the predictable routine of a railroad. The singer of the song greets the railroad man and asks about the train schedule. The response is repeated with a matter-of-fact tone, emphasizing the humdrum nature of the railroad man's work. The singer expresses thanks to the railroad man before revealing his true intentions - he wants to watch the trains go by, suggesting that the monotony of the train schedule offers a sense of safety and refuge.
As the song progresses, the singer becomes more introspective, recalling a lost love who left him for another man. He seeks distraction in a gambling game, but cannot focus on anything but his heartbreak. The final lines of the song reveal that he abandoned the game and caught a train, disappearing into the vast expanse of the American landscape.
Line by Line Meaning
Good morning, Mr. Railroad Man
Greeting sir who works for the railway company
What time do your trains roll by?
May I know the schedule of your train trips?
"; At 9: 16 and 2: 44 and 25 minutes 'till 5";
The trains usually pass at 9:16am, 2:44pm, and 25 minutes before 5pm
Thank you, Mr. Railroad Man
Expressing gratitude to the railway worker
I want to watch your trains go by
I wish to witness the passing of the trains
Standing on a platform, smoking a cheap cigar
I am standing on a train platform and smoking a cigarette that did not cost me much
And waiting for an old freight train that carries an empty car
I am waiting for a train with an empty carriage
Well, I pulled my hat down over my eyes
I lowered my hat to cover my eyes
And I walked across the tracks
I crossed the railway tracks
And I caught me the end of an old freight train
I hitched a ride at the back of an old train
And I never did come back
I never returned
Well, I sat down in a gamblin' game
I played a game of chance
But I could not play my hand
But I was unable to make any move
I was thinkin' about the woman I loved
I was thinking of the woman I deeply cared for
Run away with another man, poor boy
The woman I love eloped with someone else, and that made me feel pitiful
Run away with another man
The woman I love eloped with someone else
I was thinking about the woman that I loved
I was thinking of the woman I deeply cared for
Writer(s): MARTIN SIMPSON
Contributed by Amelia C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
john greasby
Beautiful drinkin song.