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“500 Miles” (also known as “500 Miles Away from Home” or “Railroaders’ Lament”) is a folk song made popular in the United States and Europe during the 1960s folk revival. The simple repetitive lyrics offer a lament by a traveler who is far from home, out of money and too ashamed to return. The song is generally credited as being written by Hedy West, while some sources also credit Bobby Bare, Curly Williams, and/or John Phillips as co-writers. West is said to have learned a version of the song as a child from her paternal grandmother Lillie Mulkey West. “500 Miles” is thought to be related to the older folk song, “900 Miles,“ which may itself have origins in a southern American fiddle tune called “Reuben’s Train.“ “500 Miles” is West’s “most... Read on...