Readin' Rightin' RT. 23
Dwight Yoakam Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Chorus:
They learned readin', writin', Route 23
To the jobs that lay waiting in those cities' factories
They learned readin', writin', roads to the north
To the luxury and comfort a coal miner can't afford
They thought readin', writin', Route 23
Would take them to the good life that they had never seen
They didn't know that old highway
Could lead them to a world of misery
Have you ever been down Kentucky-way
Say south of Prestonburg
Have you ever been up in a holler
Have you ever heard
A mountain man cough his life away
From diggin' that black coal
In those dark mines, those dark mines
If you had you might just understand
The reason that they left is all behind
Chorus:
They learned readin', wrightin', Route 23
To the jobs that lay waitin' in those cities' factories
They learned readin', writin', roads to the north
To the luxury and comfort a coal miner can't afford
They thought readin', writin', Route 23
Would take them to the good life that they had never seen
They didn't know that old highway
Could lead them to a world of misery
Have you ever seen 'em
Put the kids in the car after work on Friday night
Pull up in a holler about 2 A. M.
And see a light still shinin' bright
Those mountain folks sat up that late
Just to hold those little grandkids
In their arms, in their arms
And I'm proud to say that I've been blessed
And touched by their sweet hillbilly charm
Chorus:
They learned readin', writin', Route 23
To the jobs that lay waiting in those cities' factories
They learned readin', writin', roads to the north
To the luxury and comfort a coal miner can't afford
They thought readin', writin', Route 23
Would take them to the good life that they had never seen
They didn't know that old highway
Could lead them to a world of misery
Yeah, it turns out that that old highway,
Leads you to a world of misery




They found out that that old highway
Leads you to a world of misery...

Overall Meaning

The song "Readin' Rightin' RT. 23" by Dwight Yoakam is an empathetic tribute to the struggles that coal miners and their families faced in rural Kentucky. The lyrics highlight the lack of opportunities in these areas and the hope that people had that Route 23 would offer a way out. However, the reality was that the road led them to factory jobs in cities, which were not the ideal scenario they expected. The song emphasizes that those who left behind their homes and families to work in the cities realized too late that their decision had led to a life in misery.


The chorus repeats the idea that people thought that if they learned reading and writing and traveled Route 23, they would reach the good life they had never seen but were unaware that the same road would lead them to a world of misery. The song's second verse talks about the hard labor coal miners went through in the mines and how many got sick and died early from it. The final verse presents a more heartwarming scene, describing how some families still hold on to their traditions, and the grandparents wait up all night to spend time with their grandkids over the weekend.


In summary, "Readin' Rightin' RT. 23" is an emotional response to the socio-economic realities of the coal mining regions of rural Kentucky, and the song's lyrics provide a haunting description of the life in those areas.



Line by Line Meaning

Chorus:
The refrain of the song that highlights the main message of the song.


They learned readin', writin', Route 23
People learned basic education like reading and writing to find jobs in the factories located near Route 23.


To the jobs that lay waiting in those cities' factories
They were looking for opportunities in the cities' factories to earn a livelihood.


They learned readin', writin', roads to the north
They sought education to learn about the roads leading to the north to work in coal mines, which promised comfortable living, unlike the life of a coal miner.


To the luxury and comfort a coal miner can't afford
They were promised a life of luxury and comfort, which was impossibly beyond the reach of a coal miner.


They thought readin', writin', Route 23
They dreamed that education and gaining information about Route 23 would help them attain a better life.


Would take them to the good life that they had never seen
They believed that by knowing how to read, write, and navigate the roads, they could have a prosperous and fulfilling life.


They didn't know that old highway
People were unaware of the consequences that awaited them upon travelling along said road.


Could lead them to a world of misery
The highway could lead them to a miserable and unhappy life that they never thought they would experience.


Have you ever been down Kentucky-way
Asking if the audience has ever visited Kentucky.


Say south of Prestonburg
Referencing the specific location south of Prestonburg in Kentucky.


Have you ever been up in a holler
Asking the audience if they have ever been in a valley or uninhabitable land.


Have you ever heard
Asking if they have ever listened to something specific.


A mountain man cough his life away
The mines were claimed to be so unsafe that coal miners would often contract respiratory illnesses and other fatal diseases that would later lead to their early deaths.


From diggin' that black coal
Coal miners would often fall sick from the coal dust and hazardous air conditions in the mines.


In those dark mines, those dark mines
Mines were pitch black with no ventilation or sufficient light, making the job even more challenging.


If you had you might just understand
If the audience had seen or experienced the dreadful conditions, they might comprehend the hardships of the coal miners and their families.


The reason that they left is all behind
People left their homeland and their family members behind just to have a better life by working in the factories or mines located near Route 23.


Have you ever seen 'em
Asking the audience if they have seen some specific people.


Put the kids in the car after work on Friday night
After finishing their work on Friday nights, grandparents would drive to their children's homes to pick up their grandchildren.


Pull up in a holler about 2 A. M.
Referring to arriving late in a valley or remote region by their grandparents.


And see a light still shinin' bright
When they arrived, they saw that the light was still on, indicating that their grandchildren were still awake, waiting for them.


Those mountain folks sat up that late
People from the mountains would stay up late just to spend some time with their grandchildren.


Just to hold those little grandkids
Their only intention was to embrace and hug their grandchildren.


In their arms, in their arms
Emphasizing the physicality of the grandparents' love for their grandchildren.


And I'm proud to say that I've been blessed
The singer considers himself lucky and privileged to have seen and experienced the love and affection of these people.


And touched by their sweet Hillbilly charm
The sweet sweet nature and activities of the people he met forced a charming impression on the singer's heart.


Yeah, it turns out that that old highway,
Irony understood after realising the path leads to misery as all the hardships said in the song started with Route 23.


Leads you to a world of misery
The path can lead to a lifestyle that brings only misery and hardship.


They found out that that old highway
The people who moved to find jobs on the other end of Route 23 realized that it was not going to lead them to their dream life after all.


Leads you to a world of misery...
The road ended up leading people to a world full of problems and sadness.




Contributed by Sydney W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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