Never Marry A Railroad Man

The song offers a warning to someone who may be hurt by an unreliable lover. It begins with questions about heartbreak and lies, then gives firm advice: avoid marrying a “Railroad man.” The repeated refrain makes the speaker sound protective and certain, while the references to loneliness and tears suggest the pain behind that warning.

The railroad image implies a man whose work or attention keeps him moving away from his partner. Saying his heart is “at his new train” suggests that the train matters more to him than a lasting relationship. “Every now and then” means he shows love only occasionally, not steadily. The advice to forget him “if you can” recognizes that leaving someone may be difficult even when the relationship seems harmful.

The song can be heard as a straightforward caution against marrying someone emotionally unavailable. But “Railroad man” may also stand for any partner whose commitments or wandering life leave little room for intimacy; the lyrics do not explain exactly why he is absent. The speaker’s strong certainty contrasts with the softer admission that forgetting him may be hard. This leaves room to hear both confidence in the advice and sympathy for the person who might struggle to follow it.