Lyrics of
Inside Llewyn Davis - Five Hundred Miles

500 Miles, also known as Railroaders Lament, was written by Hedy West in 1961, drawing upon American folk songs and her familys own stories. The songs poignant lyrics deal with the themes of loneliness, homesickness, and longing to return home, despite having nothing to return to.

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If you missed the train I'm on
You will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
A hundred miles, a hundred miles,
A hundred miles, a hundred miles
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles

Lord, I'm one, Lord, I'm two,
Lord, I'm three, Lord, I'm four
Lord, I'm five hundred miles away from home
Away from home, away from home,
Away from home, away from home
Lord, I'm five hundred miles away from home

Not a shirt on my back
Not a penny to my name
Lord, I can't go back home this a-way
This a-way, this a-way,
This a-way, this a-way,
Lord, I can't go back home this this a-way

If you missed the train I'm on
You will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles

A hundred miles, a hundred miles,
A hundred miles, a hundred miles,
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles