6 votes

Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains - Election Song (2005)

4 comments

  1. [2]
    Wolf_359
    Link
    If anyone thought this was cool, the full album is here. It's a raw and powerful album from a homeless, drug-addicted teenager. The lyrics are cynical, nihilistic, and full of pain. There was a...

    If anyone thought this was cool, the full album is here.

    It's a raw and powerful album from a homeless, drug-addicted teenager. The lyrics are cynical, nihilistic, and full of pain.

    There was a time in my life when this album made complete sense to me and I could take it at face value. Now, after getting clean from opiates and growing into a functioning adult, it's more metaphorical than literal to me.

    I listen to it when life gets tough as a way to vent my frustrations and remind myself that I'm not alone in having moments where I feel confused by existence and angry about the human condition.

    If you do decide to check out the album, his most popular song is New Mexico Song. Very haunting and nostalgic.

    If the world isn't that simple
    Maybe this town is at least
    And if I'm not marching with them to war,
    I'm sure not marching with you for peace.

    My favorite on the album is probably the song Untitled. Another haunting song in my opinion.

    Today the dropouts were smarter than the PhDs
    As they took off with everyone's cars without the keys
    Today I bled failure all the way into the sky
    And I grin hopelessly
    As I sit down to die

    5 votes
    1. somewaffles
      Link Parent
      I love going back to listen to his early stuff after recently having relistened to his final album before he stopped releasing music publicly. He grew a lot as an artist, but always kept the DIY...

      I love going back to listen to his early stuff after recently having relistened to his final album before he stopped releasing music publicly. He grew a lot as an artist, but always kept the DIY punk spirit.

      A punk rock song won't ever change the world! But I can tell you about a couple that changed me!

      Wish he would release more stuff, but apparently he is in a much happier spot in his life now, which is awesome to hear. The dude was great at writing in a super relatable and smart, but not pretentious way.

      1 vote
  2. geometrica
    Link
    Harmony Parking Lot Song will always have a special spot in my heart for what it meant to me when I was 19 and terribly drunk and sad.

    Harmony Parking Lot Song will always have a special spot in my heart for what it meant to me when I was 19 and terribly drunk and sad.

    1 vote
  3. irren_echo
    Link
    Pat's voice is a bit of an acquired taste, but once it clicked for me it really clicked. He's worth a second (or third) shot if it doesn't hit right the first time; he was definitely one of the...

    Pat's voice is a bit of an acquired taste, but once it clicked for me it really clicked. He's worth a second (or third) shot if it doesn't hit right the first time; he was definitely one of the best wordsmiths in folk punk (and maybe even punk in general).