In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC.[1] A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
tumbling tumbleweeds
Asleep At The Wheel Lyrics
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Pledging their love to the ground
Lonely, but free I′ll be found
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds
Cares from the past are behind
Nowhere to go, but I'll find
Here where the trail will wind
I know
When night has gone
That a new
Day starts at dawn
I′ll keep rolling along
Deep in my heart is a song
Here on the range I belong
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds
I know
When night has gone
That a new
Day starts at dawn
I'll keep rolling along
Deep in my heart is a song
Here on the range I belong
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds
The lyrics of "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," performed by Asleep at the Wheel, speak of the singer's freedom and sense of belonging while drifting with the eponymous tumbleweeds. The text opens with the image of the plants tumbling down and anchoring themselves to the earth, even as the singer proclaims their loneliness but also their freedom in the vast expanse of the range. The opening verse sets the tone for the rest of the song's musings on the singer's sense of self in a world where they have nothing but the freedom to wander.
The subsequent verses make quite explicit the fact that the singer is moving forward, trusting in their heart's song to keep them going even as they acknowledge that the past is fading into the distance. They artfully depict the singer's journey as winding through an unpredictable terrain, which perfectly captures the various twists and turns of life's journey. Ultimately, though, the lyrics present the tumbleweeds as a metaphorical anchor for the singer, who uses the plants as a sort of map to guide them through the ups and downs of existence.
The song concludes with a reiteration of the opening chorus, inviting listeners to join the singer in their journey through the cycle of day and night. The simple, folksy melody and lyrics of "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," thus weave together a story of independence and self-discovery, linking the tumbleweeds' freedom to the singer's own sense of belonging in a world often marked by transience and change.
Line by Line Meaning
See them tumbling down
Witness the free-spirited tumbleweeds falling down without a care in the world
Pledging their love to the ground
The rolling tumbleweeds are showing reverence to the earth by swaying in unison with it
Lonely, but free I'll be found
Although one may feel solitary, they find comfort in being unchained and unburdened by societal norms
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds
Like the wild, rolling tumbleweeds, the artist also drifts aimlessly without a set path or destination
Cares from the past are behind
The artist has left behind their worries and troubles from the past
Nowhere to go, but I'll find
Even though there is no specific destination, they will eventually discover what they are searching for
Here where the trail will wind
The journey may take twists and turns, but the singer is content with allowing it to lead them in whichever direction it takes them
I know
When night has gone
That a new
Day starts at dawn
The artist is aware that a new day will always come after each night passes
I'll keep rolling along
The artist will continue their journey, knowing that everything will fall into place eventually
Deep in my heart is a song
The artist carries a song in their heart, which uplifts and guides them on their journey
Here on the range I belong
The singer feels like they belong in the natural landscape of the range
Drifting along with the tumbling tumbleweeds
The song concludes with the artist embracing their free-spirited nature, drifting along with the tumbleweeds and allowing the journey to guide them
Writer(s): Bob Nolan
Contributed by Abigail Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ben - Moderator
The issue with search on Firefox is now resolved.
Ben - Moderator
Sorry about that Eddie - we will resolve this very soon. In the meantime you should still be able to paste a search into the search box. I'll update you here.
Eddie
With the new setup my firefox browser will not allow typing in the search area.