The Ragpicker's Dream

I personally think there's more than two protagonists (The Rail-king, a male hobo, the Scarecrow, a female hobo, the Truckdriver (1st person observer). Here's how I read the song:

When Jack Frost came for Christmas With a brass monkey date The rail-king and the scarecrow Hopped a Florida freight And they blew on their paper cups And stared through the steam Then they drank half a bottle Of Ragpicker's dream where

Somewhere north (New England?) two hobos get on a train (illegaly, a freight car) for sunny Florida, because the winter is particular cold (Jack Frost and a Brass Monkey date, signifying a particularly cold spell)

They manage to warm som sort of drink - coffee?, and they blow on them to cool them down. Then they share an unknown licquor dubbed "Ragpickers Dream", probably just a mix of whatever is available.

The whiskey keeps following Cold pitchers of beer Me and my associate Like the clientele here get The onions and the 'taters Rib-eyes on the grill Toothpicks and luckies And a coffee refill as

The second verse changes to someone observing a scene, maybe looking out at the train station where the train is stopping. Could also be a memory from the Rail King, but I think it's a third person, maybe a truck-driver. Either way, this person is enjoying a meal of rib-eyes with onions, potatoes, along with beer. Once the meal is over, he asks for cigarettes and coffee while looking at the scene.

The rail-king lay rocking He was leaving the ground Then he was flying like Santa Claus Over the town where He came to the window Of a house by a stream It was a family christmas In the Ragpicker's dream there

In the third verse, the on-looker sees the rail-king and the scene changes to the Rail King's dream - seemingly a childhood memory or a fantasy of how a nostalgic christmas is supposed to be.

Were kids at the table All aglow in the light Music in the wintertime Sure carries at night there Was turkey and gravy Pie and ice-cream And gifts for each and everyone In the Ragpicker's dream where

4th verse is just an extention of the dream-scene. However, I get the feeling that the on-looker (truck driver) also longs for this christmas scene, even if he's in a warm place eating nice food.

The red-eye keeps tumbling In our glasses of beer Me and my associate Like the service in here there's A ten for your trouble You have beautiful hair Make the last one two doubles It's a cold one out there where

5th verse is back with the truck-driver, who is getting ready to leave for work, decides to procrastinate, drinking whiskey (red eye), because it's cold (instead of 1 whiskey he essentially gets 4, suggesting he's delaying).

The scarecrow and the rail-king Have started to dance But a nightstick and a billy-club Won't give peace a chance here I think they went that-aways Your song and dance team Heading home for the holidays With the Ragpicker's dream

6th verse is back with the hobos who have "started to dance". I think this may mean that they are squabbling or fighting or maybe having sex, causing commotion. The Truck-driver notices that rail personelle is on the scene and either breaks up the fight/activity, threatening violence (nightstick and billyclub). However, the two hobos escape and the truck driver says (or thinks) that the "song and dance team went that-a-way", maybe trying to get back on the train.

On his knees like a fighter The rail-riding king Like a sack of potatoes Like a bull in the ring where The scarecrow falls over With a tear in the seam Home for the rover In the Ragpicker's dream where

7th verse suggest that the hobos have taken a beating, the Railking almost unconcious and the Scarecrow (a woman) with an open cut or wound (tear in the seam). "Home for the rover" is an oxymoron of sorts, because a rover (a nomad) doesn't have a home. This could suggest that they are back on the train - or not - or it is a self-reflection of the truck-driver, that he too is a nomad, that he won't be home for christmas either.

The red-eye keeps tumbling Like tears in our beer Me and my associate Like the ambiance here where They cornered two castaways In a white flashlight beam Merry christmas and happy days In the Ragpicker's dream

The 8th verse definitely suggest that the hobos are caught - cornered by a flashlight beam, and the truck-driver is getting sentimental, crying or equivalating the whiskey (red eye) with tears, longing for something that he doesn't have either.

The final two lines serve as a reminder to you as a listener, that there are people unfortunate out there, whether they are hobos or have a job, that they are not home for christmas - have a merry christmas, but mind these people too.

I find the song very sentimental and very good. At first I didn't realize that it's actually a christmas song, even though MK writed this into the lyrics. I simply found it to be just another story. But the more I listen, the more I realize that it's meant as an actual christmas song - although quite sad.