Audioslave released three successful albums, received three Grammy nominations, sold more than eight million records worldwide, and became the first American rock band to perform an open-air concert in Cuba. Cornell issued a statement in February 2007 that he was permanently leaving the band "due to irresolvable personality conflicts as well as musical differences." As the other three members were busy with the Rage Against the Machine reunion, and Morello and Cornell had each released solo albums in 2007, Audioslave was officially disbanded.
Discography
2002 Audioslave
2005 Out of Exile
2006 Revelations
I Am a Highway
Audioslave Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Long and weary my road has been
I was lost in the cities
Alone in the hills
No sorrow or pity for leaving I feel
I am not your rolling wheels
I am the highway
I am the sky
Friends and liars don't wait for me
I'll get on all by myself
I put millions of miles
Under my heels
And still too close to you
I feel
I am not your rolling wheels
I am the highway
I am not your carpet ride
I am the sky
I am not your blowing wind
I am the lightning
I am not your autumn moon
I am the night
The night
I am not your rolling wheels
I am the highway
I am not your carpet ride
I am the sky
I am not your blowing wind
I am the lightning
I am not your autumn moon
I am the night
The night
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah
The lyrics of Audioslave's song "I Am The Highway" contain deeper meanings and emotional complexities. The opening lines "Pearls and swine bereft of me, long and weary my road has been" is a reference to the singer's struggles and personal demons that he has dealt with, while the phrases "Alone in the hills, no sorrow or pity for leaving I feel" reveal a sense of isolation and detachment from the world. These lines also hint at how the singer chooses to deal with his issues by separating himself from society, which is reflected in the rest of the lyrics.
The song's chorus is what makes it even more powerful, with the repeated lines "I am not your rolling wheels, I am the highway. I am not your carpet ride, I am the sky" reinforcing the theme of independence, of not needing anyone else but oneself to navigate through life. The shift from "rolling wheels" to "the highway" symbolizes a transition from the mundane to something bigger and more meaningful. The line "I put millions of miles under my heels, and still too close to you I feel" is a poignant expression of how despite all of the distances covered, one can still feel trapped and unable to move forward.
Overall, "I Am The Highway" is a song that speaks to the struggle of the human experience, of how we all must find our own way through life and not be weighed down by the expectations of others. It is a message of resilience and self-reliance, one that is universal and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
Pearls and swine bereft of me
I have given up on materialistic things and superficial people.
Long and weary my road has been
I have traversed a long, difficult path to become who I am today.
I was lost in the cities
I was searching for meaning and purpose in the city.
Alone in the hills
Despite being alone, I found solace in nature and was at peace.
No sorrow or pity for leaving I feel
I am unattached to people and things that no longer serve me and do not feel sadness or regret for leaving them behind.
I am not your rolling wheels
I am not a mere instrument or a means to an end for anyone.
I am the highway
I am in control of my own destiny and path in life.
I am not your carpet ride
I am not a convenience or a ride to take advantage of.
I am the sky
I am expansive, limitless, and free.
Friends and liars don't wait for me
I am not bound to expectations or promises from unreliable people.
I'll get on all by myself
I am self-reliant and do not need anyone else to accomplish my goals.
I put millions of miles under my heels
I have experienced a lot and have traveled far to gain wisdom and knowledge.
And still too close to you I feel
Despite my independence, some relationships cannot be fully severed.
I am not your blowing wind
I am not a force to be controlled or manipulated.
I am the lightning
I have immense power and energy and can strike at any moment.
I am not your autumn moon
I am not fleeting or temporary; I have a consistent presence.
I am the night
I am mysterious, powerful, and encompass all that exists between light and dark.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Brad Wilk, Chris Cornell, Timothy Commerford, Tom Morello
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind