Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of someone in distress, seeking solace on another's shoulder while simultaneously declaring a move to Boulder. This juxtaposition suggests a desire for both immediate comfort and a drastic change of scenery, perhaps as an escape. The narrator is clearly facing financial hardship, noting they "got no money to pay" and opting for the train, a less comfortable but cheaper mode of transport. The central tension lies between the vulnerability of crying and the determined, if bleak, declaration of heading to Boulder. The chorus reinforces this sense of aimlessness and poverty; sleeping in a "boarding house" and eating "soup in a can" are images of basic survival. The line "Wayward winds they blow me / Here and there were the same" powerfully conveys a feeling of being adrift, with no real progress or change despite movement. The most striking aspect is the contrast between the personal, intimate act of crying on someone's shoulder and the grand, almost defiant statement of relocating to a distant city. It highlights a deep dissatisfaction with the current situation, so much so that a potentially difficult and lonely move seems preferable to staying put. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the cyclical nature of this hardship and lack of direction. Ultimately, these lyrics resonate because they capture a specific, raw feeling of being stuck and overwhelmed, yet still clinging to the idea of a fresh start, however uncertain. The unadorned language and simple imagery make the narrator's plight feel immediate and relatable, a quiet desperation masked by a plan to simply go somewhere else.