On the Road
Flash and the Pan Lyrics
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Get me a seat on the first plane out
Throw me a line and save my skin
Get out the cards and deal me in
It's getting too hard to survive and it shows
On the road
Where did you go when you left last night
Where did you go in nowhere towns
With all the good men going down
It's getting too hard to survive and it shows
On the road
On the road
Live in a suitcase/another show/another dose/artistic paranoia
We got a headcase/he write it down/he know it all/and never get to know you
It's getting too hard to survive and it shows
On the road
On the road
Live in a suitcase/another show/another dose/artistic paranoia
We got a headcase/he write it down/he know it all/and never get to know you
It's getting too hard to survive and it shows
On the road
Give me my bill, I'm checking out
Get me a seat on the first plane out
Throw me a line and save my skin
Get out the cards and deal me in
It's getting too hard to survive and it shows
On the road.
The lyrics of Flash and the Pan's song On the Road are a melancholic reflection on the pressures of life on tour. Starting with a sense of urgency, the singer declares that it's time to leave and wants to get out as soon as possible. He feels like his survival is at stake, and the road is taking a toll on him. The line "Get out the cards and deal me in" could be interpreted both as a reference to gambling and as a metaphor for the hand he's been dealt in life - either way, he feels like he has no control over his fate. The chorus repeats a sense of desperation - "It's getting too hard to survive and it shows" - as the singer acknowledges that the road is taking a toll on him.
The second verse shifts to more introspective lyrics, as the singer asks where his companions have been and what they've been doing. He seems to be reflecting on the loneliness of touring, wondering where his friends have gone and if they're doing as poorly as he is. The line "With all the good men going down" suggests that there's a sense of competition on the road, and that the singer may feel like he's losing out to others. The third verse repeats the same sense of artistic paranoia, with the singer feeling like he's stuck in his own head and unable to connect with others. The repetitive chorus reinforces the feeling of hopelessness, with the road appearing to be an endless cycle of loneliness and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Give me my bill, I'm checking out
I want to leave and I need to settle my expenses before doing so
Get me a seat on the first plane out
I need to leave as fast as possible and I want to be on the next plane available
Throw me a line and save my skin
I need your help to get out of trouble and avoid a bad situation
Get out the cards and deal me in
I'm willing to take the risk and participate in whatever is happening
It's getting too hard to survive and it shows
Life on the road is becoming increasingly difficult and it's starting to become evident
On the road
This is the reality of our current lifestyle, constantly traveling and performing
Where did you go when you left last night
I'm curious about your whereabouts after you left
Did you score, did you do alright
Did you succeed, did anything good happen?
Where did you go in nowhere towns
When we're touring, we often end up in small, uneventful towns
With all the good men going down
Despite how hard we work and try, it seems like we still encounter setbacks and failures in these towns
Live in a suitcase/another show/another dose/artistic paranoia
Our lifestyle is characterized by constant traveling, performing, and the struggle of living up to artistic standards
We got a headcase/he write it down/he know it all/and never get to know you
Some people in the industry act like they know everything and never bother to get to know the people they work with
Contributed by Camden P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@blarney-py5iq
This song is timeless, very hard to do I think - my kids were shocked it came out in 1984 - and so underrated! hearing this in the 80's on the radio back when radio stations could be truly independent! thank you KTCL and KBCO of yesteryear.
@jennifersmith8714
I’ve been trying to find this song for over 25 years. I finally gave up - until tonight. Thank you! Awesome - perfect. Brings back great memories.
@FiEsHoWs
Love it ! known the music since 78 :o) Harry Vanda & George Young.
@jadzia7911
I still have my old audio cassette with this recorded back in the 80's, the music is still as fresh as it used to be, thanks:)
@cherivaughan1634
Awesome song by an understated band that was very good.
@coolinken
Still a fantastic song. Brings back so many great memories.
@alfa10530
Awesome song to hear while driving... ! Just love it :)
@herb369nichols
I like to challenge Google to identify songs that I play from my music library, but after 8 failed attempts, I gave up 🤣🤣🤣 I recorded this off the radio back in the 80s and have never seen it or heard it since then, except of course when I play It once a week. Great tunes never get old. 😁👍
@wernerh4505
THANK YOU had this album way back still love it
@michaelwalters3930
2017 George Young... who co-wrote this song passed away. As did his younger brother Malcolm Young, AC-DC. A tough time for the Young family. RIP Gerorge and Mal...ROCK ON