☝️ Key Points
- The song is about a dying man who is on his way to the cemetery.
- The protagonist accepts his situation and emphasizes that he is not a complainer.
- The title of the song refers to the train '309' on which the protagonist will embark on his final journey.
- The protagonist thinks of his loved ones and asks for their care.
- The text ends with the protagonist determined to get away from here on the train '309'.
Interpretation
The song lyrics "Like the 309" by
Johnny Cash revolve around the thoughts and feelings of a dying man who is on his way to the cemetery. The protagonist of the song talks about how it will take some time for him to meet "Doctor Death" and how he wishes he could breathe properly again. He emphasizes that he is not a complainer and accepts the situation.
The title of the song, "Like the 309", refers to the train "309" on which the protagonist will embark on his final journey. The lyrics then describe the ride to the train station, where he will be placed in his coffin. He asks for an electric fan to be directed towards his head to provide him some relief.
The protagonist also thinks about his loved ones and asks his lover to kiss him tightly and take care of him. He also asks her to give him wine and take care of his cow. He is grateful for his luck and mentions that he hasn't felt this good since Jubilee Day.
The song lyrics also include the sounds of a train and describe how the protagonist is carried away by it. He calls the train "309" and tells the children to stay away. He also compares his breathing difficulties to asthma that "comes like the 309".
The text ends with the protagonist asking someone to write him a letter and sing him a song to tell him what he did wrong. He says he will be fine as his coffin is loaded onto the train. He is determined to get away from here on the train "309".