Hobo's Meditation
Trio The 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

"Hobo's Meditation" is a song by Trio The, which was written by Jimmie Rodgers and released in 1933. The song talks about the predicament of a hobo or a homeless wanderer who spends his life hopping from one freight train to another. The lyrics of the song suggest that the hobo's life is a difficult one, and even in death, there may be no relief from the struggles he feels on earth.


The song starts with the singer lying on top of the boxcar, waiting for a train to pass by. He wonders what will become of the hobo when he dies. He imagines a Master up in heaven and wonders if the hobo will have a place there he can call home. Then he questions whether the hobo will have to work for a living or continue to roam as he does in life.


In the second verse, the singer imagines his life in heaven as a hobo. He asks if there will be any freight trains in heaven, any boxcars to hide, or any tough cops or brakemen to stop him from riding. He then wonders if the hobo will be able to hang out with the rich and privileged or if they will always have spare money to share. In the end, he asks if the hobo will be respected in the afterlife.


The song's simplicity and profundity have made it stand the test of time. It's a poignant reflection on the value of individual human life, the paradoxes of life and death, and the search for meaning beyond material possessions.


Line by Line Meaning

Last night as I lay on the boxcar
The singer describes lying on a moving train car.


Just waiting for a train to pass by
The singer waits while a train passes.


What will become of the hobo
The singer wonders what will happen to a homeless person when they die.


Whenever his time comes to die
The singer ponders the inevitability of death for the homeless person.


There's a Master up yonder in heaven
The singer acknowledges the existence of God and heaven.


Got a place that we might call our home
The singer believes that heaven is a place where people can live.


Will we have to work for a living
The singer wonders if people in heaven have to work to live.


Or can we continue to roam
The singer ponders whether people in heaven can continue traveling freely.


Will there be any freight trains in heaven
The singer asks if there will be trains and rails in heaven.


Any boxcars in which we might hide
The singer wonders if there will be train cars where people can hide in heaven.


Will there be any tough cops or brakemen
The singer questions if authority figures such as police and train conductors exist in heaven.


Will they tell us that we cannot ride
The singer contemplates whether there will be rules in heaven to follow, and if they conflict with the idea of free travel.


Will the hobo chum with the rich man
The singer wonders if people of different classes will coexist in heaven.


Will we always have money to spare
The singer questions if the concept of wealth and poverty still exists in heaven.


Will they have respect for the hobo
The singer reflects on whether hobos will be treated with dignity and honor in heaven.


In that land that lies hidden up there
The singer refers to heaven as a mysterious place.




Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JIMMIE RODGERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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