☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a man who wants to free himself from anger and stress.
- He doesn't want to be bothered when he leaves the train station.
- He urges people to face the consequences of their bad behavior.
- The song expresses the desire to leave in peace and let go of anger and regret.
Interpretation
The lyrics of the song 'Let the Train Blow the Whistle' by
Johnny Cash are about a man who embarks on a journey and seeks to free himself from all worries and stress. He doesn't want to be bothered by other people when his train leaves the station. He's not even sure if he'll be noticed.
He says he will sell his old guitar so that someone can finally play it. He wants the people he knows to remember him and tell him that he's gone. He wants the people who gossip and lie about others to face the consequences of their actions and burn in the fire.
He says he has no regrets and that he will settle his debts when he's 'laid', which could mean that he's dead and his debts will be settled with death.
He urges people not to come up with excuses for their evil behavior and to face the consequences of their actions. He offers them to take another train from his basket full of smoke, and he wants the train to whistle when he leaves.
The lyrics of the song express the desire to free oneself from the troubles of life and depart in peace, without holding grudges or resentment. It's about accepting one's own destiny and letting go of anger and regret.