Meaning of "When I Get to the Border" by Richard & Linda Thompson

"When I Get to the Border" is a song that explores themes of escapism and the desire for freedom. The opening lines set the tone with the narrator referencing "dirty people" and their intention to leave them behind. These "dirty people" represent the struggles and hardships that the narrator is trying to escape from. The border mentioned throughout the song symbolizes a point of transition, where the narrator hopes to leave all their troubles behind and find a fresh start.

The repetition of "Monday morning" emphasizes the narrator's sense of exhaustion and the weight of their daily struggles. They express a longing to be free from the burdens of the everyday and seek a place where they can find peace and be away from those who pick on them. The imagery of a "box of pine" with a name resembling the narrator's suggests a desire for disappearance, a complete break from their previous life.

The narrator expresses a strong belief that once they reach the border, their troubles will dissipate and the road ahead will be paved with gold. This imagery underscores the hope and optimism they hold for a better future. The mention of a "salty girl with yellow hair" waiting in a rocking chair suggests the presence of a supportive and comforting figure at the other side of the border.

Overall, "When I Get to the Border" conveys a longing for liberation and a desire to leave behind a life of hardship and struggle. It speaks to the universal human desire to find a place of peace and escape the confines of daily life.