The opening line is about a man, hungover, reeking of the smokey bar he was in the night before and trying to recall an evening of whiskey and cigarettes. He does this often, and it reminds him of the feeling of remembering a song but not knowing it, a frequent occurrence for him(and myself incidentally). He knows it sad. He thinks it’s long. And no body can sing along with him because it’s not a song really, but an idea of a song. A southbound train. A whistle in the wind. No one really cares about it but him, and he’s humming on this lonesome song again. \n\nThe song isn’t anyone in particular(unless Jamey has said as much and I didn’t know), more the feeling a lonesome song makes you feel. I immediately think of 3; Misery and Gin - MH, He Stopped Loving Her Today - GJ, and Your Cheating Heart - HW. All three are sad and lonesome songs that get blended into the idea of heartbreak, sad country. In that vein, I feel In Color off the same album is another to be added to that list. \n\nThe rest of the song is a story of him just going around and trying to find what is meaning and what is being in that life. All the while still trying to nail the song that’s just an idea. \n\nBy the end, I view it as the repeat verse is him once again, driving home, hungover. Again showing that the song isn’t a song at all.
The opening line is about a man, hungover, reeking of the smokey bar he was in the night before and trying to recall an evening of whiskey and cigarettes. He does this often, and it reminds him of the feeling of remembering a song but not knowing it, a frequent occurrence for him(and myself incidentally). He knows it sad. He thinks it’s long. And no body can sing along with him because it’s not a song really, but an idea of a song. A southbound train. A whistle in the wind. No one really cares about it but him, and he’s humming on this lonesome song again. \n\nThe song isn’t anyone in particular(unless Jamey has said as much and I didn’t know), more the feeling a lonesome song makes you feel. I immediately think of 3; Misery and Gin - MH, He Stopped Loving Her Today - GJ, and Your Cheating Heart - HW. All three are sad and lonesome songs that get blended into the idea of heartbreak, sad country. In that vein, I feel In Color off the same album is another to be added to that list. \n\nThe rest of the song is a story of him just going around and trying to find what is meaning and what is being in that life. All the while still trying to nail the song that’s just an idea. \n\nBy the end, I view it as the repeat verse is him once again, driving home, hungover. Again showing that the song isn’t a song at all.