In regards to jhoin's interpretation referring to a chain gang, railroad workers who repair and maintain the track have long been known as "section gangs". Chain gangs are not used on railroad tracks as the tracks are owned by the railroads which are private companies.
I think line the "Last night I heard her voice..." is speaking about a dream he had. Either that whole verse was a dream, or I think more likely he now lives somewhere else, had the dream of her telling him her "love had never died" and then he woke up and ran to where they had lived (their "wedding house"). Once he got there and went up to their room, he realized it had only been a dream, just as he heard the "long whistle whine". The whistle refers to a train horn. Many people, including the railroads themselves, still call them whistles as trains once used steam whistles.
The downbound train analogy ties the whole theme together beautifully. Masterfully written, very well sung.
@dangerus We can tell it was a dream because if his love wasn’t in the house, she wouldn’t have left the front door unlocked for him to burst through effortlessly!
@dangerus We can tell it was a dream because if his love wasn’t in the house, she wouldn’t have left the front door unlocked for him to burst through effortlessly!
In regards to jhoin's interpretation referring to a chain gang, railroad workers who repair and maintain the track have long been known as "section gangs". Chain gangs are not used on railroad tracks as the tracks are owned by the railroads which are private companies.
I think line the "Last night I heard her voice..." is speaking about a dream he had. Either that whole verse was a dream, or I think more likely he now lives somewhere else, had the dream of her telling him her "love had never died" and then he woke up and ran to where they had lived (their "wedding house"). Once he got there and went up to their room, he realized it had only been a dream, just as he heard the "long whistle whine". The whistle refers to a train horn. Many people, including the railroads themselves, still call them whistles as trains once used steam whistles. The downbound train analogy ties the whole theme together beautifully. Masterfully written, very well sung.
@dangerus We can tell it was a dream because if his love wasn’t in the house, she wouldn’t have left the front door unlocked for him to burst through effortlessly!
@dangerus We can tell it was a dream because if his love wasn’t in the house, she wouldn’t have left the front door unlocked for him to burst through effortlessly!