Meaning of "500 Miles" by The Journeymen

"500 Miles" is a folk song that captures the longing and displacement experienced by someone who is far away from their home. The repetition of the phrase "five hundred miles away from home" creates a sense of distance and emphasizes the magnitude of the separation. The lyrics suggest that the narrator has made a difficult journey, leaving behind everything they knew and loved. The image of missing a train symbolizes a missed opportunity or a lost chance for connection. The sound of the train whistle acts as a reminder of their physical distance from home and serves as a metaphorical representation of the emotional distance as well.

The mentioning of not having "a shirt on my back" and "not a penny to my name" further emphasizes the narrator's destitution and the desperate situation they find themselves in. This highlights the hardships and sacrifices made in their journey, as well as their inability to turn back or find a way home through conventional means. The repetition of the phrase "this a-way" suggests a sense of resignation, as if the narrator has accepted their current circumstances and feels trapped in their current life far from home.

Overall, "500 Miles" conveys a deep sense of longing, loneliness, and displacement. It portrays the struggles of being far away from home, without the means to return or establish a sense of belonging in their new surroundings. The lyrics evoke a feeling of yearning for familiarity and a desire to be reunited with loved ones or a place that feels like home.