It's carbon and monoxide
The ole Detroit perfume
It hangs on the highways
In the morning
And it lays you down by noon
Oh Papa Hobo
You can see that I'm dressed like a schoolboy
But I feel like a clown
It's a natural reaction I learned
In this basketball town

Sweep up
I been sweeping up the tips I've made
I been living on Gatorade
Planning my getaway
Detroit, Detroit
Got a hell of a hockey team
Got a left-handed way
Of making a man sign up on that
Automotive dream, oh yeah, oh yeah
Oh Papa Papa Hobo
Could you slip me a ride?
Well, it's just after breakfast
I'm in the road
And the weatherman lied


Lyrics submitted by Janson

Papa Hobo Lyrics as written by Paul Simon

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Papa Hobo song meanings
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    My Interpretation

    I love how Paul Simon paints these pictures with just the right amount of detail that you feel like you've lived through something real.

    In this song, a hobo (a homeless traveler) is making small talk, mostly about the city he finds himself in (Detroit). He's on the street, embarrassed about how he's underdressed ("feel like a clown"), with vague plans to "get away". In the end he asks for a ride because the weather has gotten bad.

    jcovarruon October 09, 2019   Link

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