Jonny Campos - guitar, pedal steel, bass, vocals
Peter DeHart - drums, touches, vocals
Christiaan Mader - vocals, guitar, "cheap" keys, bass
Andrew Toups - good, expensive, delicious keys
For further information, check out their MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/brassbed
On the road
Brass Bed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Vinyl, denim, and cottony
Strokes and strobes enlight me
Disembodied headlights on the road
Playing peace on the radio
Hiss and clicks out of tempo
Cars buzz by and let go
Let them carry the load
Let them take it away from everything
Untill I want it back again
It's a lifetime of concrete
Some move faster on the street
Metal crosses mark the last scene
Our friends we've never ever known before
Let them take it away from everything
Cause I don't care to know
Where this path will go
I just want to know if I will live to see
The sunlight every day
Carry the load
Let them take it away from everything
Until I want it back again
The lyrics to Brass Bed's song "On The Road" encapsulate a sense of freedom and escape. The singer in the song is seemingly on a road trip, peeling off the backseat of the car to reveal denim, vinyl and cottony fabrics. The sensory details present in these lyrics—strokes and strobes enlighten the singer—suggest the feeling of being on the road, of not knowing exactly where you'll end up. The disembodied headlights and cars buzzing by create a sense of separation from the world, as if the singer is a mere spectator to the world around them.
The second verse of the song switches to a more introspective perspective. Playing "peace on the radio" is a metaphor for finding inner calm on that long and winding road. The cars buzz by and let go, and the singer is carried away from everything they have known before. Metal crosses marking the last scene suggest a sense of danger or loss, while our friends we've never ever known before underscore the idea of being on a journey, of meeting new people and encountering unexpected experiences. The final refrain repeats the idea of carrying the load, of letting go and allowing the world to take the singer away from everything until they decide they want it back.
Overall, the lyrics to "On The Road" by Brass Bed are about the freedom of being on the road, of being carried away from everyday life, and of experiencing the unknown. It's a song about the journey, not the destination.
Line by Line Meaning
Watch me peeling the back seat
I am removing the back seat from the car, so that I have more space to lay down in.
Vinyl, denim, and cottony
The materials of my clothes are a mix of vinyl, denim and cotton, providing a diverse and comfortable ensemble.
Strokes and strobes enlight me
The flashing lights of the city and the car's own strobe lights create a sense of euphoria and inspiration for me.
Disembodied headlights on the road
The lights of other vehicles appear as floating objects in the darkness caused by the lack of surrounding light.
Playing peace on the radio
I am listening to calming music on the car's radio to relax and destress myself.
Hiss and clicks out of tempo
Interference in the radio transmission causes distortion in the music, resulting in sounds that are not in sync with the beat.
Cars buzz by and let go
The sound of vehicles passing by can be heard, but they do not stop, giving a sense of transience and distance.
Let them keep me safe,
I am entrusting the responsibility of safe travel to other drivers on the road.
Let them carry the load
I am allowing the presence of other vehicles to be a source of comfort and security during the journey.
Let them take it away from everything
I am embracing the opportunity to escape from the pressures and stress of my day-to-day life by travelling on the road.
Until I want it back again
I will only return to those responsibilities when I am ready and feel capable of handling them.
It's a lifetime of concrete
The road and its urban surroundings are a symbol of a long-lasting, man-made creation that represents the passing of time and civilization.
Some move faster on the street
Other motorists may be more impatient or focused on reaching their destination quickly, while I am content with taking things at a slower pace.
Metal crosses mark the last scene
The sight of roadside memorials, typically placed at the sites of fatal accidents, serve as a reminder of the fragility of life and the potential dangers that come with travelling by car.
Our friends we've never ever known before
We encounter other drivers on the road who are complete strangers, yet we share a common experience and awareness of each other's presence.
Cause I don't care to know
I am not seeking to understand or predict the outcome of my journey.
Where this path will go
I am content to simply follow the road wherever it may lead me.
I just want to know if I will live to see
My primary concern is whether I will be able to continue experiencing the joys of life in the future.
The sunlight every day
The natural light of the sun is symbolic of life and vitality, and my ultimate desire is to continue living and seeing its presence every day.
Carry the load
I am choosing to release my worries and concerns, allowing myself to be carried forward by the journey and its surroundings.
Contributed by Charlotte B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.