The lyrics of Gov't Mule's song "Railroad Boy" tell a tragic story of a young woman who falls in love with a railroad boy and faces heartbreak and ultimately takes her own life. The song begins with the woman going upstairs to make her bed, not speaking a word to her mother. The mother becomes concerned and follows her upstairs, asking what is troubling her. The daughter confesses that she cannot tell the railroad boy, whom she loves deeply, about her feelings. The girl reveals that the railroad boy courted her and made her fall in love, but now he no longer stays at home and neglects her. She is hurt because she knows he goes to a place in London and sits with other girls, saying things to them that he won't say to her. The father comes home from work and realizes something is wrong with his daughter. He goes upstairs hoping to give her comfort but discovers her hanging by a rope. In her final moments, she leaves a message on her chest, asking for a proper burial and for the world to know that she died because of love. The song describes the tragic consequences of unrequited love and the despair that can lead individuals to take their own lives. The storytelling in "Railroad Boy" conveys the heartbreaking emotions surrounding love, loss, and the longing for recognition and affection.
