☝️ Key Points
- The song is about the importance of listening to parental advice and avoiding the difficulties of life.
- The singer regrets not having listened to his parents and finds himself in a difficult situation.
- The song lyrics remind us of how important it is to listen to the advice and warnings of our parents.
- The singer asks the prison guard not to tell him lies while he waits for his train that will take him away from his problems.
- The simple and easy-to-understand language of the lyrics reinforces the significance of the song.
Interpretation
"Big Railroad Blues" by
Grateful Dead is a song about someone who regrets not listening to the advice of their mother and father. The singer tells how their mother and father told them not to try and sing these railroad melodies. They wanted them to stay away from the difficulties and challenges of life.
The singer regrets not listening to their parents, because now they find themselves in a difficult situation. They wish they had listened to what their mother said, because then they wouldn't have to try and sleep in a cold iron bed. They weren't in a hurry to go to the train station and when they arrived, the train had already left.
In the song, the singer also asks the prison guard to go away and not tell them lies. They are waiting for their train to come and take them away from their troubles.
The song lyrics are a reminder that it is important to listen to the advice and warnings of our parents to protect ourselves from difficulties. It also shows the consequences of not following that advice and ending up in unhappy situations.
The song conveys its message through simple and easily understandable words, which further highlight the meaning of the lyrics."