His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.
Last to Leave
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
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Spend my time alone at rest,
And if I were the last to leave here,
Now would these roads be any less?
Oh, I'm the last to leave.
Now would these ribbon highway roads
Be less wonderful to me?
Many friends come and go,
You know there's a lot of feelings that I've left behind,
And it's a lonely world, I know,
When your friends are hard to find.
But take the time, my memory fails,
And soak my eyes in the morning rain,
Like a sailor, sailing over Jordan,
On the road back home again.
Oh, I'm the last to leave.
Would these ribbon highway roads
Be less wonderful to me?
Why must I always be so slow?
In Arlo Guthrie's song "Last to Leave," the lyrics reflect on the solitude and introspection that can come with spending time alone. The opening lines "Lonely sunshine, days come easy, spend my time alone at rest" set a melancholic tone, as the singer finds contentment in isolation but also feels the impact of the emptiness. The song then shifts to the idea of leaving - if the singer were to be the last to leave a particular place, would it make a difference? The roads they have traveled would still hold their own meaning and significance, regardless of whether anyone else is there to share in the experience. This raises questions about the nature of attachment and connection - can one truly form a connection to a place, person, or experience if they are the only one involved?
The chorus repeats the idea of being the last to leave, emphasizing the singer's tendency to linger and reflect. They wonder if their slow pace is a hindrance, and question why they always find themselves in this position. The subsequent verse touches on the fleeting nature of human relationships, acknowledging the feelings that the singer has left behind as they have moved through life. Yet, despite the loneliness that can come with this reality, the singer still sees value in taking the time to appreciate the small things, like the morning rain. The final line "on the road back home again" suggests a longing for the comforts of home and the hope of finding connection there.
Overall, "Last to Leave" is a poignant examination of the complexities of human connection and isolation. The lyrics touch on themes of attachment, memory, and the search for meaning in solitude. The repetition of the phrase "last to leave" throughout the song creates a sense of nostalgia and reflection, while the chorus hints at a desire for change and a way out of the cycle of loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
Lonely sunshine, days come easy,
I enjoy my days in solitude, with no one to distract me from the simple pleasures of life.
Spend my time alone at rest,
I prefer to spend my time in peaceful tranquility rather than being constantly surrounded by others.
And if I were the last to leave here,
If I were the last person to depart this place, I would wonder if it would be any different than it is now.
Now would these roads be any less?
Would the roads and surroundings lose some of their beauty if I were not here to appreciate them?
Oh, I'm the last to leave.
I have a tendency to be the last one to leave a place, perhaps due to my reluctance to depart from the peaceful surroundings.
Now would these ribbon highway roads
These long stretching highways, winding through the countryside.
Be less wonderful to me?
Would the scenic routes lose their charm without me here to witness them?
Why must I always be so slow?
I often take longer to leave a place due to my admiration for the surroundings, causing me to wonder why I am like this.
Many friends come and go,
People have entered and exited my life throughout the years.
You know there's a lot of feelings that I've left behind,
I have experienced a wide range of emotions that have been left behind in these places.
And it's a lonely world, I know,
I understand the feeling of loneliness in a world that is constantly changing.
When your friends are hard to find.
It can be difficult to find meaningful friendships in life, making it even harder to leave a place.
But take the time, my memory fails,
I need to take the time to create memories because I know that my memory is not always reliable.
And soak my eyes in the morning rain,
I should take time to appreciate and enjoy the small moments of natural beauty in my life.
Like a sailor, sailing over Jordan,
I will continue on my journey in life like a sailor on a ship, navigating the unknown and trusting in myself.
On the road back home again.
I am returning to a place that feels like home to me, but I know that I will eventually have to leave once again.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: ARLO GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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