500 Miles
Paul and Mary Peter Lyrics

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If you miss the train I'm on
You will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow
A hundred miles
A hundred miles
A hundred miles
A hundred miles
A hundred miles

You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
Lord, I'm one
Lord, I'm two
Lord, I'm three
Lord, I'm four
Lord, I'm five hundred miles from my home

Five hundred miles
Five hundred miles
Five hundred miles
Five hundred miles
Lord, I'm five hundred miles from my home

Not a shirt on my back
Not a penny to my name
Lord, I can't go home
This way
This way
This way
This way
This way
Lord, I can't go home this way

If you miss the train I'm on

You will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "500 Miles" narrate the tale of a man who is far away from home, helpless, and out of options. The song begins with him asking the listener to acknowledge that he has already departed, and if they happen to miss the train, they will know that he is gone. The train whistle heard a hundred miles away serves as a metaphorical symbol of the man's imminent departure from his current situation.

The lyrics go on to describe how the man has absolutely nothing but the clothes on his back and no money to his name. He laments the fact that he cannot go home in this condition. He has five hundred miles to travel, and he knows that it's going to be a difficult trip, given his circumstances. The repetition of the lines "Five hundred miles" reinforces the distance he has to cover between him and his home.

The song's theme centers around the longing for a sense of belonging, a yearning for a place called home, and the desperation that arises when you're far away from it. The song evokes an emotional response, as many people can relate to the feeling of being homesick or being far away from a place that gives them comfort.

Line by Line Meaning

If you miss the train I'm on
If you fail to catch the train I'm traveling on

You will know that I am gone
You'll realize that I've left

You can hear the whistle blow
You'll hear the train's whistle sound

A hundred miles
It can be heard from a distance of a hundred miles

You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
The sound of the train's whistle is audible for a long distance

Lord, I'm one
I'm feeling lonely

Lord, I'm two
I am still alone

Lord, I'm three
I am still quite alone

Lord, I'm four
I'm still feeling very alone

Lord, I'm five hundred miles from my home
I am far away from my house, five hundred miles away

Five hundred miles
Five hundred miles away from home

Lord, I'm five hundred miles from my home
I am far away from my house, five hundred miles away

Not a shirt on my back
I don't own any clothes

Not a penny to my name
I am completely broke

Lord, I can't go home
I cannot return to my house

This way
In this manner

This way
By this method

This way
By doing this

This way
By following this path

This way
Through this plan

Lord, I can't go home this way
I cannot return to my house by following the plan or path that I am currently on

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Hedy West

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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