Highway of Sorrow
Bill Monroe Lyrics


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I once had a darling wife kind, true and sweet
Life was so bright and gay everything complete
But I fell for another who led my life astray
So I'll live in sorrow till my dying day

Down the highway of sorrow I'm traveling alone
I've lost all my true friends I've lost a happy home
I'm heading for destruction I'm on the wrong track
Down the highway of sorrow there's no turning back

I went back to my darling I got down on my knees
I begged her with tear rimmed eyes to give my poor heart ease




But she was hurt so deeply she could not forgive
So I'll live in sorrow as I long as I live

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Highway of Sorrow" by Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys tell the story of a man who has lost everything due to his own mistakes. The first verse describes how his life was once joyful and perfect with his wife, but he cheated on her and destroyed their relationship. The rest of the lyrics describe his current state of loneliness and regret as he wanders down the road of sorrow. He has lost all of his friends and his home, and he knows he is on the wrong path but cannot turn back. The lyrics reveal the pain, guilt, and sadness that can come with making poor choices in life.


Overall, "Highway of Sorrow" is a cautionary tale about the consequences of infidelity and poor decision-making. It highlights the importance of making good choices and the devastating effects that bad choices can have on one's life. The song is a reminder that every choice we make has a ripple effect and can impact our lives and the lives of those around us in ways we may not realize.


Line by Line Meaning

I once had a darling wife kind, true and sweet
I used to have a wife who was loving and sweet


Life was so bright and gay everything complete
Life was perfect with her, everything felt complete


But I fell for another who led my life astray
But I cheated on her with someone else who led me astray


So I'll live in sorrow till my dying day
I'll regret my mistake and live in sorrow for the rest of my life


Down the highway of sorrow I'm traveling alone
I'm on a lonely path of regret and sadness


I've lost all my true friends I've lost a happy home
I've lost my friends and my happy home due to my actions


I'm heading for destruction I'm on the wrong track
I'm headed for self-destruction because of my poor choices


Down the highway of sorrow there's no turning back
I can't turn back time and change my mistakes


I went back to my darling I got down on my knees
I returned to my wife and begged for her forgiveness


I begged her with tear rimmed eyes to give my poor heart ease
I cried and begged her to ease the pain in my heart


But she was hurt so deeply she could not forgive
She was too hurt to forgive me for what I did to her


So I'll live in sorrow as I long as I live
I'll live in sadness for the rest of my life because of my mistake




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILL MONROE, PETER PYLE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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