Open Road
BARLOW Gary Lyrics


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My life is extraordinary bare
I fought the fear and chased the pain
My life doesn't need to be explained
I chose to walk the line as one
Sometimes, as I live upon my island
Cut off from emotion and its pain
Oh, that's when I am tempted by the waters
The waters that I can take me far away

So I'll just keep on walking down this open road
Hoping someone somewhere needs me
So I'll just keep on walking down this open road
Talking to the man who knows me
Yes, he knows me, the man is me

My life was once full of people's faces
Brought to me by love which isn't strange
Oh, my life had the goodness of blue waters
A day's a day for all I used to say
Sometimes I can sit and cry my heart out
Drowning in my autocratic ways
Oh, that's when I am tempted by the waters
Waters that can take me far away

So I'll just keep on walking down this open road
Hoping someone somewhere needs me
So I'll just keep on walking down this open road
Talking to the man who knows me
Yes, he knows me, the man is me

Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
Hmm, hmm, hmm

My life is now full of people's faces
Within the light of change I pulled away
Oh, my life shows that no man is an island
I've exchanged the piece of life I cut away
Now you won't see me walking down that open road
I've found someone now who needs me
No, you won't see me walking down that open road
I've found at last the man who knows me




Yes, he knows me, the man was me
The man was me

Overall Meaning

In Barlow Gary's song "Open Road", he sings about his extraordinary and solitary life. He reveals that he had to fight fear and chase pain, and because of that, he cut himself off from his emotions and became an island. He is tempted by the waters, which could take him far away from everything, but he keeps walking down the open road, hoping that someone somewhere needs him. Barlow believes that the man who knows him best is himself, and he talks to himself on this journey.


Gary Barlow talks about the phase of his life when it was full of people's faces, brought to him by the love that isn't strange. He acknowledges the goodness of the blue waters, and he used to say that a day's a day. But sometimes, he can sit and cry his heart out, drowning in his autocratic ways, and that's when he's tempted by the waters, which can take him far away. However, Barlow sees a light of change in his life, and he pulled away from his autocratic ways. He recognizes that no man is an island and that he's exchanged the piece of life that he cut away. At the end of the song, Barlow reveals that he's found someone now who needs him, and he's no longer walking down that open road. He's found the man who knows him best - himself, the man who he was all along.


Line by Line Meaning

My life is extraordinary bare
My life is simple and uneventful


I fought the fear and chased the pain
I faced and overcame my fears and pains


My life doesn't need to be explained
I don't owe anyone an explanation for my life


I chose to walk the line as one
I chose to live my life independently and on my own terms


Sometimes, as I live upon my island
Sometimes, as I isolate myself from others


Cut off from emotion and its pain
Cut off from feeling and the discomfort it brings


Oh, that's when I am tempted by the waters
That's when I am tempted to escape and start anew


The waters that I can take me far away
The thought of leaving everything behind and starting fresh is tempting


So I'll just keep on walking down this open road
So I'll keep moving forward in life


Hoping someone somewhere needs me
With the hope that my presence and help are valued somewhere


Talking to the man who knows me
Reflecting on myself and having self-awareness


My life was once full of people's faces
My life was once filled with the people I loved


Brought to me by love which isn't strange
Brought to me by genuine love that was not unusual


Oh, my life had the goodness of blue waters
My life had the beauty and simplicity of clear waters


A day's a day for all I used to say
I used to believe that every day was the same


Sometimes I can sit and cry my heart out
I sometimes feel overwhelmed and sad


Drowning in my autocratic ways
Overwhelmed by my independent and self-sufficient habits


Now you won't see me walking down that open road
I've found someone who I don't need to run away from


I've found someone now who needs me
I've found someone who values my presence and help


I've found at last the man who knows me
I've found self-awareness and acceptance within myself


Yes, he knows me, the man was me
I am my most authentic self and know who I truly am




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Gary Barlow

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@LisaChrimes-bt5cq

Someone said to me once Gary Barlow and I said Gary's from Cheshire my Gary can listen to him all day his vocals and passion and he's a ledgend and genius ❤❤❤❤

@dinasilva9263

Damn i miss this era of music so much...my favorite ALWAYS, when music was so beautiful, and was about Love💕

@soufianeamjahed5678

I miss a lot that era , my life were full of music , science fiction movies , i were my aithentical version... Damn such emotions .....

@corner18rugby

He was blessed with an angels voice. And what he does for charities is extraordinary. He is mega awesome, and I'm so glad he is back with Take that as well. They deserve each others friendship.

@zloinaopako

Gary ages well and gets better with time.

@benredfield93

All of Gary Barlow songs are great

@pascalemirouze1728

Amazing singer and composer

@sabinevandaele4175

YES, angel voice so pure

@garyfan98

This is the song I love the most.  I've been encouraged by this song ( his singing) since I heared the first time. At that time, I had some troubles  and lost my way. Then his song,voice hit my soul and showed me 'how to live with confidence'.

@hugocampos2080

I'm absolutely agree boy!

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