Railway Shoes Releases Gigs Lyrics Comments

Details

Author
Robyn Hitchcock
According to our records, Robyn has played this song 42 times, most recently at Unknown Hotel on April 30, 2025. He first performed it at Park West on June 17, 1992, 32 years and 10 months earlier.

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Comments

Robyn talked about this song on the promo record SPECTRE, on which he explains each of the songs on RESPECT:

"Well, 'Railway Shoes' isn't on, actually ... it's not a term. You know,
it's not like ... we don't say 'Gol-blimey, mate, put yer railway shoes
on, guv,' back in the Old Country or anything. It's ... 'Railway Shoes'
is ... I was just sitting in the shed in the garden, playing the guitar
and out came the expression 'Railway Shoes.' I like a title. If you've
got a title it's much easier to work from: 'The Moon Inside,' 'Railway
Shoes,' they all existed as titles and tunes before they became fleshed
into anything definite. I was trying to sound like Richard Butler from
the Furs, really. [He chuckles.] It's made to sound like Richard Butler
trying to be Van Morrison, which is an unholy combination, I think. But
my skills as a mimic are obviously waning. [Laughs.] No, I was gonna
ask ... we didn't have time to ask people to come and play on the
record, but I was thinking of asking Richard to come and sing on
'Railway Shoes.' I can just hear him on the chorus: '[in a raspy,
Richard Butler-esque voice] Railway shoes!' You know, that kind of
thing."

Lyrics

The leaves on the table are all turning grey
The first time she saw you she hoped you were gay
It's hard to recover when you're the disease
But I'm ready I swear it, I'm walking around in these
Railway shoes
In my railway shoes

The ghost of your father is
Right by your side
He's so close to you that he's almost inside
He's guiding your head and he's guiding your limbs --
But he isn't you, and you know you're not him
In your railway shoes
In your railway shoes

Take the train, take the other train, mister, and stand by  (Take the train...)
Take the train, take the other train, honey -- and ride (Take the train)

Madam I burn for you night after day
I'm empty without you and colder than clay
The wax on my body is making me cold
But I'll never be able to go where I'm told in my
Railway shoes
In my railway shoes
In my railway shoes
In my railway shoes

Take the train, take the other train, honey -- and stand by
Take the train -- take the other train, mister -- and ride
Ride
Ride
Ride