Hobo's Lullaby
Woody Guthrie Lyrics
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Let the towns drift slowly by
Listen to the steel rails hummin'
That's the hobo's lullaby
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Do not think 'bout tomorrow
Tonight you're in a nice warm boxcar
Safe from all that wind and snow
I know the police cause you trouble
They cause trouble everywhere
But when you die and go to Heaven
You'll find no policemen there
So go to sleep you weary hobo
Let the towns drift slowly by
Listen to the steel rails hummin'
That's a hobo's lullaby
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Woody Guthrie's "Hobo's Lullaby" is a song about the life of a hobo - one who travels from place to place looking for work, food, and shelter. The song is a soothing lullaby that urges the weary hobo to rest and let go of all worries. The opening lines, "Go to sleep you weary hobo, let the towns drift slowly by," portrays the life of a traveling hobo who wanders around the country without any permanent place to call home. The steel rails humming are the only constant sound in their life that brings comfort and a sense of belonging.
The lyrics also touch upon the harsh realities of the hobo life, the uncertainty of tomorrow, and the constant threat of being chased by the police. The song urges the hobo not to worry about tomorrow and instead embrace the temporary safety of a warm boxcar. It also acknowledges the mistreatment and harassment the hobos face from the police but reaffirms the belief that there will be no police in heaven. The song's final lines reiterate the lullaby's message, urging the hobo to let go and fall asleep, listening to the comforting hum of the steel rails.
Line by Line Meaning
Go to sleep you weary hobo
Rest now, tired wanderer
Let the towns drift slowly by
Watch the city lights fade as you leave and let the world pass you by
Listen to the steel rails hummin'
Hear the comforting sound of the train tracks as you travel
That's the hobo's lullaby
A soothing tune for those living life on the road
Do not think 'bout tomorrow
Forget about the uncertainty of the future
Let tomorrow come and go
Let it happen as it will without worry or fear
Tonight you're in a nice warm boxcar
Enjoy the comfort of this shelter tonight
Safe from all that wind and snow
Protected from the harsh weather outside
I know the police cause you trouble
I understand the challenges you face with law enforcement
They cause trouble everywhere
It's not just you, police create problems for everyone
But when you die and go to Heaven
In the afterlife, in a better place than this world
You'll find no policemen there
There will be no authority figures in this holy place
So go to sleep you weary hobo
Rest now, tired wanderer
Let the towns drift slowly by
Watch the city lights fade as you leave and let the world pass you by
Listen to the steel rails hummin'
Hear the comforting sound of the train tracks as you travel
That's a hobo's lullaby
A soothing tune for those living life on the road
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: GOEBEL REEVES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jacuncao
Go to sleep you weary hobo
Let the towns drift slowly by
Can't you hear the steel rail humming
That's a hobo's lullaby
Do not think about tomorrow
Let tomorrow come and go
Tonight you're in a nice warm boxcar
Safe from all the wind and snow
I know the police cause you trouble
They cause trouble everywhere
But when you die and go to heaven
You won't find no policemen there
So go to sleep you weary hobo
Let the towns drift slowly by
Don't you feel the steel rail humming
That's a hobo's lullaby
@zachriccardo1226
"But when when you die and go to heaven, you'll find no policemen there"
Sick burn from woody
@cozyzz9946
If you only knew more of him and his generation of minstrels!
@kyrythkessler1316
Woody wasn't the original writer.
@jayadams8728
Out of the hundreds of artists out there, this one used his studio time to sing to homeless people. Awesome.
@princezzpuffypants6287
Have you listened to his Dust Bowl Songs? Worth checking out and I believe they are all available free on YouTube
@emersonsmithereens2094
He was one
@jwbf986
My great grandad used to tell stories of the Great Depression. He got thrown out of his house and had to hop trains and sleep on the streets, stay in shantytowns and whatnot. This song reminds me of him. Rest In Peace Grandaddy.
@Ricardo54975
I’m sorry for your loss🙏❤️
@AndresGarcia-ns9ok
Did he go through Dustbowls
@SandfordSmythe
One of the reasons for the CCC.