Chris Michalis, also known as Chris Mike, is a professional guitar player f… Read Full Bio ↴Chris Michalis, also known as Chris Mike, is a professional guitar player from Greece. At the age of 13, his father put his first guitar on his lap and showed him just three single chords. He took classical guitar lessons to further develop and improve his technique. Some of his influences include Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, Steve Vai, John Petrucci and Guthrie Govan. By the end of his high school years, he had gained almost all of the music degrees, including Music Theory and Analysis, History and Theory of Musical Styles and Music composition. He also took guitar lessons with Theodore Ziras and Takis Barberis and studied jazz theory at Nakas Conservatory in Athens.

Wheels
Chris Mike Lyrics

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Charlie's got a gold watch
Don't seem like a whole lot
After thirty years of drivin'
Up and down the interstate
But Charlie's had a good life
And Charlie's got a good wife
And after tonight she'll no longer
Be countin' the days

Eighteen wheels and a dozen roses
Ten more miles on his four day run
A few more songs on the all night radio
And he'll spend the rest if his life
With the one that he loves

They'll buy a Winnebago
Set out to find America
Do a lotta catchin' up
A little at a time

With pieces of the old dream
They're gonna light the old flame
Doin' what they please
Leavin every other reason behind

Eighteen wheels and a dozen roses
Ten more miles on his four day run
A few more songs on the all night radio
And he'll spend the rest if his life
With the one that he loves

[Instrumental]

Eighteen wheels and a dozen roses
Ten more miles on his four day run
A few more songs on the all night radio

And he'll spend the rest if his life
With the one that he loves

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Wheels" by Chris Mike tells the story of a truck driver named Charlie who has been driving for thirty years up and down the interstate. He has a gold watch, which may seem like a small reward for his years of dedication, but Charlie has a good life and a loving wife waiting for him. After this particular run, he is retiring and his wife will no longer have to count the days until he comes home.

The chorus, "Eighteen wheels and a dozen roses, ten more miles on his four day run, a few more songs on the all night radio, and he'll spend the rest of his life with the one that he loves," reveals Charlie's plans after retiring. He and his wife will buy a Winnebago and set out to find America. They will take their time and catch up on things they missed during Charlie's years on the road. They will leave everything else behind and just do what they please. The roses represent the love Charlie has for his wife and the wheels symbolize the journey they will embark on.

The song is an ode to the hardworking truck drivers who spend most of their time on the road away from their loved ones. It is a story of hope and freedom, and the idea that retirement can be a time for couples to embark on new adventures together.

Line by Line Meaning

Charlie's got a gold watch
Charlie has a gold watch

Don't seem like a whole lot
The gold watch doesn't seem like much

After thirty years of drivin'
Charlie has been driving for 30 years

Up and down the interstate
Charlie has been driving on the highway for 30 years

But Charlie's had a good life
Charlie has enjoyed his life

And Charlie's got a good wife
Charlie has a good wife

And after tonight she'll no longer
Tonight his wife won't have to count time anymore

Be countin' the days
She won't have to count days until retirement anymore

Eighteen wheels and a dozen roses
Charlie drives a truck and received roses

Ten more miles on his four day run
Charlie has ten miles left on his four day trip

A few more songs on the all night radio
Charlie listens to more songs on the radio before he stops driving for the night