According to Bob Dylan's autobiographical Chronicles, Woody Guthrie gave his unpublished songs to Dylan but Bob was unable to get them from Guthrie's family (he tells a story about a reluctant babysitter).
Nora Guthrie's liner notes in Mermaid Avenue indicate that it was her intention that the songs be given to a new generation of musicians who would be able to make the songs relevant to a younger generation. She therefore contacted singer-songwriter Billy Bragg in spring 1995 about recording some unreleased songs by her father, folk singer Woody Guthrie. Most of the songs were written late in Guthrie's life when he was unable to record due to the motor impairments of Huntington's disease. By the 1990s, Woody Guthrie had become a "relic" to the MTV generation, and Nora sought to establish a different legacy for the musician. To Nora, Bragg was "the only singer I knew taking on the same issues as Woody." Bragg was concerned, however, that his fans would not realize that the songs were written by Guthrie when he performed them on tour, so he decided to record the album with another band.
Bragg contacted Tweedy and Bennett about co-recording the album while Wilco was on the European segment of their Being There tour. Bragg was particularly fond of Being There because their influences extended farther back than the 1950s. Although Tweedy was indifferent to the offer, Bennett was enthused about recording songs of one of his idols—Bennett's previous band Titanic Love Affair was named after a Billy Bragg lyric. A recording contract between Bragg and Wilco was signed after a show at Shepherd's Bush Empire. Bragg mostly recorded the politically-charged lyrics, while Tweedy preferred to record lyrics that showcased Guthrie as a "freak weirdo." The recording of Mermaid Avenue began on December 12, 1997, and was the topic of BBC's Man in the Sand documentary film.
Tempers flared between Bragg and Wilco after the album was completed. Bennett believed that Bragg was overproducing his songs, a sharp contrast to Wilco's sparser contributions. Bennett called Bragg about the possibility of remixing Bragg's songs, to which Bragg responded with "you make your record, and I'll make mine, fucker." Eventually Bragg sent copies of his recordings to Chicago for Bennett to remix, but Bragg refused to use the new mixes on the album. The two parties were unable to establish a promotional tour and quarreled over royalties and guest musician fees.
Despite these conflicts, the album was released on June 23, 1998, and sold over 277,000 copies. The album received rave reviews from Robert Christgau and Rolling Stone, and was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album. It also placed fourth on the Pazz & Jop critics poll for 1998 (right behind Bob Dylan's Live 1966).
Be Kind To The Boy On The Road
Billy Bragg & Wilco Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why does he roam alone?
Is he looking for life on that white winding highway?
For his parents dealt him trouble at home
You might think he's wrong standing there on that highway
O' what a foolish young lad!
But you yourself might be standing on that highway
Don't point your finger at that boy on the highway
As you travel down this road
Either give him your help or pass him with kindness
'Cause he's got all the trouble that he wants
Your policeman discourages that boy on the highway
It's heard everywhere that he goes
But the best way to help that boy on the highway
Is to fix all your troubles there at home
I've heard it said 'bout rolling stone boys
They gather no moss in their life?
I'll tell you the bee that gets the honey
Ain't the bee that hands around the hive
Oh be kind to that boy on that white winding highway
As you travel on there alone
Remember the men that wrote your Bible
Are the men who gave up their homes
The song, "Be Kind to the Boy on the Road" by Billy Bragg and Wilco, tells the story of a boy who is alone and wandering along the white winding highway. The song questions who the boy is and why he is on the road all by himself. The song provides the answer that the boy's parents may have dealt with him some trouble at home. The song then goes on to urge the listener to not judge the boy, as they themselves may have been in his shoes if they had his troubles in their hands. The song provides the message that the best way to help the boy is by fixing one's own troubles, rather than pointing fingers or discouraging him.
Overall, the song highlights the idea of kindness and compassion towards those in need. The boy on the road represents those who are struggling and need help. The song urges listeners to not only be compassionate towards the boy, but to apply that same compassion towards those in their own lives who might be struggling.
Line by Line Meaning
Who is that boy on the white winding highway?
Who is that young man wandering on the empty road?
Why does he roam alone?
What caused him to wander independently?
Is he looking for life on that white winding highway?
Is he hoping to find a better existence on this deserted route?
For his parents dealt him trouble at home
Because his family gave him distress at home.
You might think he's wrong standing there on that highway
You may believe he's mistaken standing alone on that deserted route.
O' what a foolish young lad!
What a naive young man!
But you yourself might be standing on that highway
However, you, too, could be on that road.
If you'd had his troubles on your hands
If you had his problems to deal with.
Don't point your finger at that boy on the highway
Don't blame the boy for his situation.
As you travel down this road
While you travel on your journey.
Either give him your help or pass him with kindness
Either assist him or treat him kindly as you go by.
'Cause he's got all the trouble that he wants
Because he has enough difficulties on his hands already.
Your policeman discourages that boy on the highway
Your law enforcement officers prevent that boy from continuing on the road.
It's heard everywhere that he goes
This information is known wherever he travels.
But the best way to help that boy on the highway
But the most effective way to assist that young man on the road.
Is to fix all your troubles there at home
Is to repair all of your issues at home.
I've heard it said 'bout rolling stone boys
I've heard that young men who move around frequently are known to be restless.
They gather no moss in their life?
Do they never settle down?
I'll tell you the bee that gets the honey
I'll explain to you the bee that receives the nectar.
Ain't the bee that hands around the hive
Isn't the bee that stays inside the hive.
Oh be kind to that boy on that white winding highway
Oh, treat that boy with compassion on that empty, winding road.
As you travel on there alone
As you continue on your journey alone.
Remember the men that wrote your Bible
Recall the individuals who composed your religious text.
Are the men who gave up their homes
Are the people who resigned from their houses.
Contributed by Hudson M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.