Hobo's Meditation
Trio (Emmylou Linda Dolly) Lyrics

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Written by Jimmie Rodgers
© 1933 Peer International Corp

Last night as I lay on the boxcar
Just waiting for a train to pass by
What will become of the hobo
Whenever his time comes to die

There's a Master up yonder in heaven
Got a place that we might call our home
Will we have to work for a living
Or can we continue to roam

Will there be any freight trains in heaven
Any boxcars in which we might hide
Will there be any tough cops or brakemen
Will they tell us that we cannot ride

Will the hobo chum with the rich man
Will we always have money to spare
Will they have respect for the hobo
In that land that lies hidden up there

Will there be any freight trains in heaven
Any boxcars in which we might hide
Will there be any tough cops or brakemen
Will they tell us that we cannot ride

Will the hobo chum with the rich man
Will we always have money to spare

Will they have respect for the hobo
In that land that lies hidden up there

Overall Meaning

The song 'Hobo's Meditation' by The Trio (Emmylou Linda Dolly) is a reflective and poignant lyric written by Jimmie Rodgers in 1933. The song is told from the perspective of a hobo, someone who is homeless and lives a transient life traveling around the country via freight trains. The hobo is lying on a boxcar waiting for a train to pass by and is contemplating what will happen to him when he dies. The opening line, "Last night as I lay on the boxcar, just waiting for a train to pass by," sets the tone of the song - one of loneliness, longing, and uncertainty.

The main theme of the song is the afterlife and whether or not the hobo will find a place to call home in heaven. The hobo wonders if in heaven, they will be able to continue living the way they do on earth, traveling without a fixed location, and if there will be any trains or boxcars to ride. The hobo also ponders if they will have to work in heaven or if they can continue to roam without any financial burden. The final lines of the song, "Will the hobo chum with the rich man, will we always have money to spare, will they have respect for the hobo in that land that lies hidden up there" portrays a feeling of helplessness, like the hobo can only dream of what heaven might be like and if they will ever truly belong there.

Line by Line Meaning

Last night as I lay on the boxcar
As I lay down on the boxcar last night

Just waiting for a train to pass by
I was waiting for a train to go by

What will become of the hobo
What will happen to the hobo

Whenever his time comes to die
When he dies

There's a Master up yonder in heaven
There is a God in heaven

Got a place that we might call our home
Who has a place that we can call home

Will we have to work for a living
Do we have to work to live

Or can we continue to roam
Or can we keep wandering around

Will there be any freight trains in heaven
Will there be any trains in heaven

Any boxcars in which we might hide
Will there be any boxcars to hide in

Will there be any tough cops or brakemen
Will there be any strict police or brakemen