"I know Mother named me after a railroad man, but it's too late now, I'm afraid. Much, much too late"

This quote by Hoagy Carmichael speaks to the idea of remorse and the inability to alter the past. The speaker is reflecting on the fact that their mother named them after a railroad man, however they are now too late to change it. This could be analyzed as a metaphor for the speaker's life, as they might feel that they have actually lost out on opportunities or made mistakes that they can no longer reverse. The quote likewise talks to the idea of fate, as the speaker acknowledges that their name was predetermined by their mom which they have no control over it. This might be viewed as a reminder that we can not constantly manage our fate, and that we should accept the repercussions of our actions. Ultimately, this quote talks to the idea of accepting our past and learning to move forward, regardless of the mistakes we might have made.