Two hobos jump a train to head south (rail riders always had nicknames, and were always dodging railroad police)...they get drunk and fantasize, pretending they're in a fine restaurant for Christmas instead of a freezing cold, rattling boxcar. They joke about flirting with an imaginary waitress, like a couple of aristocrats. The train stops, the railroad police (legendary for their brutality in the old days) beat them to death. In their dying thoughts, they have fantasies of all the comforts of family, friends and warmth of Christmas. Not a really tough one to understand here. Knopfler is a great history teacher. I suggest we learn from him by studying the historical circumstances that inspire his songs. This one should lead us to study police brutality and the social unacceptability of real unconventional freedom.
Two hobos jump a train to head south (rail riders always had nicknames, and were always dodging railroad police)...they get drunk and fantasize, pretending they're in a fine restaurant for Christmas instead of a freezing cold, rattling boxcar. They joke about flirting with an imaginary waitress, like a couple of aristocrats. The train stops, the railroad police (legendary for their brutality in the old days) beat them to death. In their dying thoughts, they have fantasies of all the comforts of family, friends and warmth of Christmas. Not a really tough one to understand here. Knopfler is a great history teacher. I suggest we learn from him by studying the historical circumstances that inspire his songs. This one should lead us to study police brutality and the social unacceptability of real unconventional freedom.