Brandon has built an established college-based following, touring with the likes of Old Dominion, Eli Young Band, Brantley Gilbert, Jake Owen, Darryl Worley, Ronnie Milsap, Randy Rogers Band and Wade Bowen. When not on the road Brandon spends his time in Nashville writing and recording.
Walkaway Joe
Brandon Lay Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Girl told her mama, hey, I really gotta go
He's waitin' in the car
Mama said, "girl, you won't get far"
Thus are the dreams of an average Jane
Ninety miles an hour down a lover's lane
On a tank of dreams
Oh, if she could have only seen
But fate's got cards that it don't wanna show
That boy's just a walkaway Joe
Born to be a leaver
Tell you from the word go
Destined to deceive her
He's the wrong kind of paradise
She's gonna know it in a matter of time
That boy's just a walkaway Joe
Just a little while into Abilene
He pulls into a station and he robs it clean
She's waitin' in the car
Underneath the Texaco star
She only wanted love
Never bargained for this
She can't help but love him for the way he is
She's only seventeen
And there ain't no reasoning
So she'll ride this ride as far as it will go
Cause that boy's just a walkaway Joe
Born to be a leaver
Tell you from the word go
Destined to deceive her
He's the wrong kind of paradise
She's gonna know it in a matter of time
That boy's just a walkaway Joe
Somewhere in a roadside motel room
Alone in the silence she wakes up too soon
And reaches for his arms
But she'll just keep reachin' on
'Cause the cold hard truth revealed
What it had known
That boy's just a walkaway Joe
Born to be a leaver
Tell you from the word go
Destined to deceive her
He's the wrong kind of paradise
But it was just another lesson in life
That boy's just a walkaway Joe
All he was, was a walkaway Joe
Just a walkaway Joe
The song "Walkaway Joe" by Brandon Lay chronicles the tragic story of a young girl who falls in love with a boy who is destined to leave her. The lyrics tell the story of a mother warning her daughter to take things slow and be careful, but the daughter ignores her and races down "a lover's lane" at ninety miles an hour with her new boyfriend, whom the mother warns her about. As it turns out, the mother was right, and the boy ends up robbing a gas station they stop at, breaking the law and leaving the girl heartbroken.
The lyrics are filled with symbolism, and the whole song is a metaphor for the choices young people make when they fall in love. The "tank of dreams" symbolizes the hope and naivete of young love, and the "Texaco star" represents the harsh reality that the girl is facing. The boy is portrayed as a "paradise" that the girl cannot resist, but in the end, he is "the wrong kind of paradise" because he is a liar and a thief. The final scene in the motel room depicts the girl's loneliness and heartache as she wakes up without her lover and realizes that he was just a "walkaway Joe," destined to leave her from the beginning.
Overall, "Walkaway Joe" is a cautionary tale about the dangers of falling in love with someone who is not good for you. It's also an allegory about the importance of listening to the wisdom of those who care about you, even when you think you know better.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama told her baby girl, take it real slow
The girl's mother advises her daughter to be cautious in life.
Girl told her mama, hey, I really gotta go
The girl replies to her mother that she needs to leave urgently.
He's waitin' in the car
The person with whom the girl wants to leave is waiting in the car for her.
Mama said, "girl, you won't get far"
The girl's mother warns her that running away with someone might not have a good outcome.
Thus are the dreams of an average Jane
The song describes the common dreams of a typical girl named Jane.
Ninety miles an hour down a lover's lane
The girl and the person in the car are driving very fast down a secluded road.
On a tank of dreams
They are on this joyride with the fuel of their fantasies.
Oh, if she could have only seen
The song implies that if the girl had known what was going to happen, she would not have gone on this drive.
But fate's got cards that it don't wanna show
The future is unpredictable, and bad things can happen anytime.
That boy's just a walkaway Joe
The guy is someone who is known to leave relationships when things get tough.
Born to be a leaver
He has a habit of leaving and cannot form lasting relationships.
Tell you from the word go
The song states that everyone knows he is like this from the start.
Destined to deceive her
The guy is someone who will invariably cheat or deceive the girl.
He's the wrong kind of paradise
The joys he brings are short-lived and ultimately disappointing and hurtful.
She's gonna know it in a matter of time
The girl will soon realize that he is not the right person for her.
Just a little while into Abilene
They drive into a town called Abilene and stay there briefly.
He pulls into a station and he robs it clean
The guy robs a gas station while the girl waits for him in the car.
She's waitin' in the car
The girl remains in the car while the guy goes to commit robbery.
Underneath the Texaco star
The gas station is called Texaco, and they have a star as their logo.
She only wanted love
The girl's only desire was to feel loved and wanted.
Never bargained for this
She did not expect the events that transpired on this drive.
She can't help but love him for the way he is
The girl still has feelings for the guy despite his wrongdoings.
She's only seventeen
The girl is just a teenager and inexperienced in life.
And there ain't no reasoning
She is unable to think logically or make wise choices in this situation.
So she'll ride this ride as far as it will go
The girl will continue to stay with the guy even though it may not end well.
Somewhere in a roadside motel room
They stay at a motel which is located off the side of a highway.
Alone in the silence she wakes up too soon
Suddenly, the girl wakes up in the middle of the night in a desolate motel room on her own.
And reaches for his arms
She instinctively wants to seek comfort in the guy's arms.
But she'll just keep reachin' on
However, she realizes that her hope is misplaced and that he's not there for her.
'Cause the cold hard truth revealed
The reality sets in, and the truth is discovered.
What it had known
The truth was something the girl already knew deep inside but refused to acknowledge.
But it was just another lesson in life
The experience was just a learning experience for the girl.
All he was, was a walkaway Joe
At the end of it all, the guy was nothing more than a person who walked away from people and relationships easily.
Writer(s): Melamed Vincent E, Barnhill Gregory William
Contributed by Michael V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jessegrove5456
Let’s go Brandon!
@ecrilly81
I love this song. Great job Brandon.
@warzereric1891
I’m your fan from Middle East Kurdistan since 2 years all love and respect
@artsandcrafts21
Keep up the good work , I absolute love it and love the meaning too it
@donnamariepszoniak6101
Beautiful Brandon ❤❤😃😃
@susanlayton2143
I love this song and this is one I have wanted to hear with male vocals.
@jackiechappell4415
Omg finally found you. I heard a couple of min of it a while back. OMG you do such a beautiful job 👍👍WOW Amazing
@ryan0748
Great track Brandon
@nicolebeach2742
Amazing 🎸🎸🤩🤩
@muhammedmustafayilmaz1484
Good music brandon.thanks