"Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)" was the story of a trucker who drives an over-the-road semitrailer truck to support his wife and three children.
In the song's first verse, the man (referred to only as "Daddy") leaves for a several-day trip through the Midwest. When the children gather around their mother in sadness, she says all they need to do is remember the song their father had taught them ("Roll on highway, roll on along, roll on Daddy 'til you get back home, roll on family, roll on crew, roll on mama like I asked you to do"); those lyrics serve as the refrain of the song. In some versions, the song begins with a CB radio call saying "How about ya, Alabama, Roll On", which was recorded from an actual CB call placed to Alabama's bus in the late 70s.
In the song's second verse, the man's wife receives a late-night phone call from an unnamed source, informing her that the highway patrol had found a semitrailer truck jackknifed in a snowbank along an interstate highway in Illinois. Despite learning that the search for her husband had been called off due to the fierce blizzard, and that Daddy had not been found at any of the local houses or motels, Mama remains confident that Daddy will be found alive. The woman and her children are left to pray for Daddy's safety, and in sadness and anticipation of a long night of worrying, sing the refrain to the song to comfort them.
In the song's third and final verse, Mama and the children wait up all night long, thinking that the next phone call will bring the worst possible news. However, "the Man upstairs" (an American reference to God) was listening – when the phone rings and Mama answers it, the voice on the other end is that of Daddy, apparently safe and sound. He asks if they had been singing that song during the search for him.
Roll On
Alabama Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Roll on highway, roll on along
Roll on daddy till you get back home
Roll on family, roll on crew
Roll on momma like I asked you to do
And roll on, eighteen-wheeler, roll on (roll on)
He's up and gone with the sun
Daddy drives an eighteen-wheeler
And he's off on a Midwest run
As three sad faces gather 'round momma
They ask her when daddy's comin' home
Daddy drives an eighteen-wheeler
And they sure miss him when he's gone (yeah they do)
Ah, but he calls them every night and he tells them that he loves them
He taught them this song to sing
Roll on highway, roll on along
Roll on daddy till you get back home
Roll on family, roll on crew
Roll on momma like I asked you to do
And roll on, eighteen-wheeler, roll on (roll on)
Well, it's Wednesday evening, momma's waitin' by the phone
It rings but it's not his voice
Seems the highway patrol has found a jack-knifed rig
In a snow bank in Illinois
But the driver was missin' and the search had been abandoned
'Cause the weather had everything stalled
And they had checked all the houses and the local motels
When they had some more news they'd call
And she told them when they found him to tell him that she loved him
And she hung up the phone singin'
Roll on highway, roll on along
Roll on daddy till you get back home
Roll on family, roll on crew
Roll on momma like I asked you to do
And roll on, eighteen-wheeler, roll on
Momma and the children will be waiting up all night long
Thinkin' nothing but the worst is comin'
With the ringin' of the telephone
Oh, but the man upstairs was listening
When momma asked him to bring daddy home
And when the call came in it was daddy on the other end
Askin' her if she had been singin' the song, singin'
Roll on highway, roll on along
Roll on daddy till you get back home
Roll on family, roll on crew
Roll on momma like I asked you to do
And roll on, eighteen-wheeler
Roll on highway, roll on along
Roll on daddy till you get back home
Roll on family, roll on crew
Roll on momma like I asked you to do
And roll on, eighteen-wheeler, roll on (roll on)
Eighteen-wheeler
Eighteen-wheeler
Eighteen-wheeler
Eighteen-wheeler
Roll on
"Roll On" is a song by Alabama that talks about the importance of family and the sacrifices people make in order to provide for their loved ones. The song specifically follows the story of a truck driver, referred to as "daddy," who is away from his family for long periods of time due to his job. The lyrics describe the sadness that the family feels when he is gone, and the hope that they hold onto each day until he returns home. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "roll on" several times, encourages the trucker to keep moving forward and getting closer to his destination.
The song highlights the struggles of the working-class family and the importance of staying strong through tough times. The lyrics suggest that the trucker is not just a provider for his family's monetary needs, but also fulfills an emotional role in their lives. Despite the physical distance between them, he remains connected to them through nightly phone calls and the song that they sing together.
Through the story of "daddy" and his family, Alabama's "Roll On" emphasizes the universality of family bonds and the hardships that come with it. The song encourages perseverance and reminds the listener that no matter how tough things may get, one should never give up on the ones they love.
Line by Line Meaning
Roll on highway, roll on along
Keep driving on the highway and don't stop
Roll on daddy till you get back home
Keep driving until you come home, Daddy
Roll on family, roll on crew
Keep going, family and Daddy's colleagues
Roll on momma like I asked you to do
Keep praying and holding on, Momma
And roll on, eighteen-wheeler, roll on (roll on)
Keep rolling and driving, eighteen-wheeler
Well, it's Monday morning, he's kissin' momma goodbye
It is the beginning of the week and Daddy is leaving for his job
He's up and gone with the sun
Daddy leaves early in the morning
Daddy drives an eighteen-wheeler
Daddy's job is to operate a large truck
And he's off on a Midwest run
Daddy is driving to the Midwest part of the country
As three sad faces gather 'round momma
Momma is surrounded by three sad children
They ask her when daddy's comin' home
They inquire when Daddy is returning home
And they sure miss him when he's gone (yeah they do)
The kids and Momma miss Daddy a lot when he is away
Ah, but he calls them every night and he tells them that he loves them
Daddy calls every night to express his love for them
He taught them this song to sing
Daddy taught them this song to help them cope with his absence
Well, it's Wednesday evening, momma's waitin' by the phone
It is now Wednesday evening and Momma is waiting by the telephone
It rings but it's not his voice
Someone other than Daddy is on the other end of the line
Seems the highway patrol has found a jack-knifed rig
The highway patrol found an accident in which an eighteen-wheeler overturned
In a snow bank in Illinois
The accident occurred in a snowbank in the state of Illinois
But the driver was missin' and the search had been abandoned
The driver was not found and the search had been called off
'Cause the weather had everything stalled
The weather conditions were making the search operation difficult
And they had checked all the houses and the local motels
They had searched all the houses and motels in the area
When they had some more news they'd call
They will update Momma when they have more information
And she told them when they found him to tell him that she loved him
Momma asked them to convey her love to Daddy if they found him
And she hung up the phone singin'
She ended the call by singing the song
Momma and the children will be waiting up all night long
Momma and the kids will wait all night for news
Thinkin' nothing but the worst is comin'
They are expecting the worst
With the ringin' of the telephone
Every phone call brings anxiety
Oh, but the man upstairs was listening
God was listening
When momma asked him to bring daddy home
Momma prayed to God to bring Daddy home
And when the call came in it was daddy on the other end
When the phone rang it was Daddy on the other line
Askin' her if she had been singin' the song, singin'
Daddy asked if Momma was singing the song
Eighteen-wheeler
The large truck
Roll on
Keep moving forward
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Loggins
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@johntracy72
All rise for the Truckers' national anthem. Roll on!
@quinn5189
Underrated comment
@oliviagrace6914
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 <3
@erickellogg8532
I believe it
@michaelwoody7255
Hello how are you
@tristanharwick3087
@@michaelwoody7255 good
@michaelwoody7255
@@tristanharwick3087 it’s my pleasure to met you
@timothygeiger8271
I follow the Old King James Version.
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.
@bennywright9515
My dad drove truck for 43 years pulling reefer coast to coast & steel hauler . He taught me & my brother both to drive truck. I now 53 my brother 49 my brother still drive truck every time I hear this song it reminds me when we were kids and our dad out on the road providing for us ! Truckers don't get enough respect ! This song is one of the most truthful songs ever written ! Tell everybody out there praise the truck driving man because if you got it a truck brought it ! God bless the truck drivers
@barebows
God bless all the trucker,yes sir if you have something because somebody drived for you .rain snow traffic tired but on the road. Thanks to all daddy.a salute from italy. .luis traditional bow