Sherry was a waitress at the only joint in town
She had a reputation as a girl who'd been around
On main street after midnight, a brand new pack of cigs
A fresh one hanging from her lips, a beer between her legs
She rides down to the river, and meets with all her friends
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

Sonny was a loner, older than the rest
He was goin' in the navy, but couldn't pass the test
So he hung around town, he sold a little pot
The law caught wind of sonny and one day he got caught
But he was back in business when they set him free again
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

Sonny's playin' eight-ball in the joint where sherry works
When some drunken out-of-towner put his hand up sherry's skirt
Sonny took his pool cue, laid the drunk out on the floor
Stuffed a dollar in her tip jar, walked out the door
She's running right behind him, reaching for his hand
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

They jumped into his pickup, sonny jammed it down in gear
Sonny looked at sherry, said "let's get on out of here
The stars were high above them, the moon was in the east
The sun was setting on them when they reached miami beach
They got a hotel by the water, a quart of bombay gin
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

They soon ran out of money, but sonny knew a man
Who knew some cuban refugees, who dealt in contraband
Sonny met the cubans in a house just off the route
With a briefcase full of money and a pistol in his boot
The card were on the table when the law came bustin' in
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

The cubans grabbed the goodies, sonny grabbed the jack
Broke the bathroom window and climbed on out the back
Sherry drove the pickup through the alley on the side
Where a lawman tackled sonny and was reading him his rights
She stepped out in the alley with a single shot 410
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

They left the lawman lying, they made their getaway
Got back to the motel just before the break of day
Sonny gave her all the money, he blew a little kiss
If they ask you how this happened say I forced you into this
She watched him as his taillights disappeared around the bend
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

It's main street after midnight, just like it was before
Twenty-one months later, at the local grocery store
Sherry buys a paper and a cold six-pack of beer
The headlines say that sonny is going to the chair
She pulls back onto main street in her new mercedes benz
The road goes on forever and the party never ends

Overall Meaning

Joe Ely's song The Road Goes On Forever tells the tale of Sherry, a waitress who is known for her promiscuity, and Sonny, a loner who sells drugs to make a living. The two of them meet, and flee town together, embarking on a journey full of reckless behavior and illegal activities. The song describes how Sonny "knows people" and engages in the drug trade among Cuban refugees. They come into contact with the law, but are able to evade it time and time again. The story ultimately ends with Sherry driving off into the sunset in a new Mercedes Benz, while Sonny is sentenced to death.

Lyrically, the song is a showcase of Joe Ely's storytelling prowess, and his ability to paint vivid pictures through words. The road is a motif that runs throughout the song, symbolizing life and eternity. The idea of a never-ending party is also a central theme, representing the characters' carefree attitudes toward life or their inability to change their destructive ways.

The song, which was released in 1992 on Joe Ely's album Love and Danger, became famous for its memorable opening line, "Sherry was a waitress at the only joint in town." It has since been covered by many artists, including Robert Earl Keen and The Highwaymen.

Line by Line Meaning

Sherry was a waitress at the only joint in town
Sherry was employed at the sole establishment in the area that provided services and sold goods.

She had a reputation as a girl who'd been around
Sherry was known for having engaged in numerous sexual encounters with various partners.

On main street after midnight, a brand new pack of cigs
During the early hours of the day, Sherry purchased a new package of cigarettes on Main Street.

A fresh one hanging from her lips, a beer between her legs
She had a newly lit cigarette in her mouth, while she was holding an alcoholic drink between her thighs.

She rides down to the river, and meets with all her friends
She travels to the river to convene with her social acquaintances.

The road goes on forever and the party never ends
Life is endless and joyous, with the group of people experiencing an ongoing celebration.

Sonny was a loner, older than the rest
Sonny was an isolated individual, whose age surpassed that of his peers.

He was goin' in the navy, but couldn't pass the test
Sonny had attempted to join the navy, but his inability to meet the appropriate requirements prevented him from doing so.

So he hung around town, he sold a little pot
For the time being, he stayed in the area and sold small amounts of marijuana.

The law caught wind of sonny and one day he got caught
The authorities became aware of Sonny's activities, which led to his arrest.

But he was back in business when they set him free again
After being released from custody, he returned to distributing drugs.

Sonny's playin' eight-ball in the joint where sherry works
Sonny is participating in a game of pool at the establishment where Sherry is employed.

When some drunken out-of-towner put his hand up sherry's skirt
An intoxicated individual who was not from the area slid his hand underneath Sherry's skirt.

Sonny took his pool cue, laid the drunk out on the floor
Sonny used his pool stick to strike the drunk person, knocking them to the ground.

Stuffed a dollar in her tip jar, walked out the door
He placed a dollar bill into her container that is used to collect gratuities, and left through the exit.

She's running right behind him, reaching for his hand
Sherry is jogging directly behind him, attempting to extend her arm to contact his hand.

The road goes on forever and the party never ends
The journey of life persists infinitely, and the group continues to engage in festivities.

They jumped into his pickup, sonny jammed it down in gear
Both individuals entered Sonny's truck, with him forcefully shifting the vehicle into a gear.

Sonny looked at sherry, said "let's get on out of here
Sonny glanced in Sherry's direction, and suggested that they should escape from their current location.

The stars were high above them, the moon was in the east
The stars were located at a significant height from them, while the moon was in the eastern region of the sky.

The sun was setting on them when they reached miami beach
They arrived in Miami Beach as the sun began to lower in the sky.

They got a hotel by the water, a quart of bombay gin
They obtained a lodging place positioned adjacent to a body of water, along with a container of Bombay gin that had a volume of one quart.

The road goes on forever and the party never ends
The road of life continues for eternity, with the celebration remaining constant.

They soon ran out of money, but sonny knew a man
They promptly became destitute, but Sonny was acquainted with an individual.

Who knew some cuban refugees, who dealt in contraband
This person had interacted with some Cuban people who were refugees, who also conducted business involving illicit goods.

Sonny met the cubans in a house just off the route
Sonny communicated with the Cubans at a dwelling that was located immediately next to the route.

With a briefcase full of money and a pistol in his boot
He had a suitcase that was brimming with money, as well as a firearm tucked inside his boot.

The card were on the table when the law came bustin' in
Playing cards were positioned on the surface of the furniture, when the law enforcement agency suddenly entered the room in a forceful manner.

The road goes on forever and the party never ends
The route of existence is interminable, and the festivity is continuous.

The cubans grabbed the goodies, sonny grabbed the jack
The Cubans obtained the valuable items, while Sonny acquired the cash.

Broke the bathroom window and climbed on out the back
He shattered the window of the restroom, and exited out the rear end of the structure.

Sherry drove the pickup through the alley on the side
Sherry directed the truck to proceed through the alley that was situated at a lateral location.

Where a lawman tackled sonny and was reading him his rights
At this place, a law enforcement officer tackled Sonny and started reciting to him his legal privileges.

She stepped out in the alley with a single shot 410
She appeared on the scene in the alley holding a firearm that was capable of discharging only one shot per trigger pull, with the model number being 410.

The road goes on forever and the party never ends
The path of existence persists infinitely, and the festivity is continuous.

They left the lawman lying, they made their getaway
They vacated the area as the officer remained helpless on the ground.

Got back to the motel just before the break of day
They arrived back at the motel shortly before daybreak.

Sonny gave her all the money, he blew a little kiss
Sonny provided her with all of the money, and blew a small kiss in her direction.

If they ask you how this happened say I forced you into this
In the event that any individuals inquire about this matter, state my coercion is what caused you to accompany me.

She watched him as his taillights disappeared around the bend
She attentively observed him as his vehicle's back lights vanished from sight around a curved part of the road.

The road goes on forever and the party never ends
Life continues on perpetually, with the festivities remaining constant.

It's main street after midnight, just like it was before
It is precisely the same situation as it was before, occurring on Main Street after midnight.

Twenty-one months later, at the local grocery store
Twenty-one months afterwards, at the area's grocery retail outlet

Sherry buys a paper and a cold six-pack of beer
Sherry makes a transaction to obtain a newspaper and a quantity of six beers that are chilled.

The headlines say that sonny is going to the chair
The prominent words displayed on the front page declare that Sonny will be put to death in the electric chair.

She pulls back onto main street in her new mercedes benz
She continues to drive onto Main Street using her recently acquired Mercedes Benz vehicle.

The road goes on forever and the party never ends
The path of life continues interminably, and the revelry persists unceasingly.

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