"Big Railroad Blues" is a song by the Grateful Dead, written by Elizabeth Cotten, a folk and blues musician. The song tells the story of a person who regrets not heeding their parents' advice and finding themselves in a difficult situation. The lyrics highlight the protagonist reflecting on their parents' warnings about the consequences they may face in life. The first verse mentions how their mother and father warned them about their current predicament of trying to sing the railroad blues. It suggests that they may have not made wise choices or followed the right path, leading them to a challenging situation. The second verse expresses remorse for not listening to their mother's advice, as it might have prevented them from finding themselves in the difficult circumstance of sleeping in a cold iron bed. This line implies that the protagonist may be incarcerated or in some form of confinement. The third verse refers to going to the train station, presumably trying to catch a train. However, they never arrive on time, causing them to miss it. The line about the train going down and rolling down the line could express the idea of missing opportunities or not being able to catch a break. The repeated verse about the "Mister Jailer" could symbolize the protagonist's desire to be set free from their current situation, asking the jailer to go away and not deceive them further. Overall, "Big Railroad Blues" is a bluesy folk song that portrays the regret of not following parental guidance and finding oneself in a tough spot. The lyrics evoke feelings of remorse, missed opportunities, and the yearning for freedom from the consequences of one's actions.
