[verse one and two]
Jimmy is a kid (young man, whatever) in a fairly small town. He entertains in pubs and is well liked by everyone, but grows tired of small town life and the pub and decides to leave for bigger and better things.
[first chorus]
His friends go with him to the train station to see him off. They talked about old times but didn't let themselves get too down about Jimmy leaving because they feel sure they'll meet again some day.
[verse three and four]
One of Jimmy's friends, the singer, grows older and lingers at the pubs more for the drinks than for the company, though he does still make small talk with other patrons. He hears talk of Jimmy, and how he's off and doing well for himself. As the years go on, some of the old "gang" die.
[second chorus]
It's more symbolic, now. They aren't taking people to an actual station, now. It's a funeral. They talk about all the times they had with the people who have died, but aren't too sad, because they know they'll meet again some day.
[verse five]
Jimmy finally comes back home, everything has changed. Everyone he knows has died. Now depressed, he drinks himself to death.
[third chorus]
Like the second chorus, the third one is more symbolic and is about a funeral or something similar. And, once again, everyone talks about all the times they had with Jimmy, but they aren't too sad, because they know they'll meet again some day.
It's kind of a sad song (what am I saying? It IS a sad song in subject, anyway), but it's very upbeat. It's like Jimmy's friends and the funeral goers. What's happened is sad, but they won't let it get them down, because there's always a bright side.
I'll go through it verse by verse:
[verse one and two] Jimmy is a kid (young man, whatever) in a fairly small town. He entertains in pubs and is well liked by everyone, but grows tired of small town life and the pub and decides to leave for bigger and better things.
[first chorus] His friends go with him to the train station to see him off. They talked about old times but didn't let themselves get too down about Jimmy leaving because they feel sure they'll meet again some day.
[verse three and four] One of Jimmy's friends, the singer, grows older and lingers at the pubs more for the drinks than for the company, though he does still make small talk with other patrons. He hears talk of Jimmy, and how he's off and doing well for himself. As the years go on, some of the old "gang" die.
[second chorus] It's more symbolic, now. They aren't taking people to an actual station, now. It's a funeral. They talk about all the times they had with the people who have died, but aren't too sad, because they know they'll meet again some day.
[verse five] Jimmy finally comes back home, everything has changed. Everyone he knows has died. Now depressed, he drinks himself to death.
[third chorus] Like the second chorus, the third one is more symbolic and is about a funeral or something similar. And, once again, everyone talks about all the times they had with Jimmy, but they aren't too sad, because they know they'll meet again some day.
It's kind of a sad song (what am I saying? It IS a sad song in subject, anyway), but it's very upbeat. It's like Jimmy's friends and the funeral goers. What's happened is sad, but they won't let it get them down, because there's always a bright side.