A jazz pianist, bandleader, session man, Hammond B3 player, Auger has played or toured with artists such as Rod Stewart, Tony Williams, Jimi Hendrix, Sonny Boy Williamson, Led Zeppelin, Eric Burdon and other legends. He has incorporated jazz, early British pop, R&B, soul and rock, and he has been nominated for a Grammy, Keyboard Magazine Organ Player of the Year, 3 million record sales.
Road To Cairo
Brian Auger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This here road leads to Cairo
I got to get me a ride
I got to go back
Go back to my children
I got to see my little bride
I been traveling
Don't know what I'll find
Scared of what I'll find
But I just got to see them again
Hey thanks for stopping
Are you headed down to Cairo?
I wrecked my Lincoln in Saint Jo
Why to little old Cairo?
No special reason
Look up some folks I used to know
Me I travel some
Have my share of fun
Now that's a life a man can live
Sure I've played and lost
But who minds the cost
You got to take more than you give
Hey you got another cigar?
Son I sure like this car
Oh from your daddy as a gift
Say on second thought
There's gifts I haven't bought
Just drop me here
Thanks for the lift
Yes I've traveled some
Yes I've been a bum
Never have a dime for gin
Left to make my way
Told her I can't stay
To see my children poor as sin
I know this road
It leads straight into Cairo
Twenty-two miles straight ahead
I can't walk down this road to Cairo
They're better thinking I'm dead
I been traveling
Gone a long long time
Don't know what I'd find
Scared of what I'd find
I can't I just can't walk down this road
The song starts with the narrative of a man who meets someone on the road who informs him that the road leads to Cairo. The man then reveals that he needs a ride back to his family, particularly to see his "little bride." He is scared of what he'll find, but the desire to see his family again outweighs the fear. The narration switches to another character who stops to join the man on his way to Cairo. This character reminisces about having fun and playing, and losing games along the way. The two continue their journey, and the singer expresses his admiration for the car he's riding in, but ultimately decides to get off short of his destination.
The narrative switches back to the main character who has been traveling for a long time, and again expresses his fear of what he'll find upon his arrival in Cairo. He then reveals that he knows the road leads to Cairo but he can't walk the 22 miles because he wants his family to think he's dead, rather than poor and unable to care for them.
Overall, the lyrics paint a picture of a man who has been traveling for a long time, perhaps in search of something, but who ultimately desires to return to his family. He is scared of what he'll find, but a longing for his loved ones compels him onward. The other character in the story serves as a foil, representing a life of fun and games, but ultimately less meaningful than that of the main character.
Line by Line Meaning
A fella told me
Someone told me something important
This here road leads to Cairo
This road will take me to Cairo
I got to get me a ride
I need to find a way to get a ride
I got to go back
I have to return to a place I used to be
Go back to my children
I need to see my kids again
I got to see my little bride
I really want to see my wife
I been traveling
I have been moving from place to place
Gone a long long time
For a really long period of time
Don't know what I'll find
I don't know what I will discover
Scared of what I'll find
I'm frightened of what I might discover
But I just got to see them again
Though I'm scared, I need to see them again
Hey thanks for stopping
I appreciate you stopping for me
Are you headed down to Cairo?
Are you going to Cairo?
I wrecked my Lincoln in Saint Jo
I crashed my Lincoln car in Saint Jo
Why to little old Cairo?
Why to the tiny town of Cairo?
No special reason
Just because
Look up some folks I used to know
I want to find people I used to be acquainted with
Me I travel some
I've done some traveling
Have my share of fun
I've had a good time in life
Now that's a life a man can live
This is a life that a man might enjoy
Sure I've played and lost
I've taken chances, and it didn't work out for me
But who minds the cost
However, who cares about that?
You got to take more than you give
You should take more than you give
Hey you got another cigar?
Do you have another cigar?
Son I sure like this car
I really appreciate your car
Oh from your daddy as a gift
Your father gave you this car as a present
Say on second thought
Consider this again
There's gifts I haven't bought
There are still gifts I need to purchase
Just drop me here
I'd like to get out here
Thanks for the lift
Thank you for the ride
Yes I've traveled some
I have traveled quite a bit
Yes I've been a bum
Yes, I have been a bit of a bum
Never have a dime for gin
I don't have any money to buy any gin
Left to make my way
I left and have been making my own path
Told her I can't stay
I informed her I cannot remain where I am
To see my children poor as sin
I don't want to see my kids living in poverty
I know this road
I'm familiar with this road
It leads straight into Cairo
It goes directly to Cairo
Twenty-two miles straight ahead
22 miles ahead in a straight line
I can't walk down this road to Cairo
I cannot walk down this road to Cairo
They're better thinking I'm dead
It's better for them to assume I'm dead
I been traveling
I have been going around
Gone a long long time
For a very long period
Don't know what I'd find
I have no idea what I'll discover
Scared of what I'd find
I'm frightened of what I might discover
I can't I just can't walk down this road
I'm really not able to walk down this road
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID ACKLES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Joanne Beauchamp
Julie Driscoll and Brian Auger…It’s rare to find this exceedingly high level of talent in today’s music!
Brian Thomas
Loved them back then and still sound superb today.. There was so much original talent that flowed out of the ordinary homes of postwar youngsters. It was a real emancipation of the youth of the day all given the best possible opportunities in post war Britain..
Ronald Wolf
Das war Aufbruch, Revolte und Unbefangenheit ... tolle Zeit. „Beatclub“ war natürlich auch eine herausragende Sendung. Der Song ist sensationell, die Orgel von Brian ein Mörderhammer und die Stimme von Julie grandios.
Könnte man die Zeit zurückdrehen...🎸⚡️🎸
patrick le meur
tout est magnifique! il faut aussi inster sur le son du Mellotron avec des violons reconnaissables ! un fan aussi de cette émission !
patrick le meur
beat club ! émission de ma jeunesse passée en Allemagne , les années heureuses pour moi!!...
Christiane W.
Oefter mal wieder auflegen 🔈🔉🔊 🔊
📻 oder remixen waer toll ! 🎹🎙🎵🎶
Wayne W Gibson
A song doesn't get much more 'haunting' than this: pure genius on Ackles' part and pure genius on Augur and Driscoll's part!
Aleksander Jakubowski
Super Hit ! Unforgetable !🌹
Old McMetal
Didn`t hear this awesome song for the last 45(or more years). Now I know what I missed. Great reminder of a time when black and white TV was still the latest fashion.
Wout Van Hulst
Beautiful song, fantastic organ, beautiful woman. Those were the days !