Highway
Foghat Lyrics


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Ridin' on the freeway, where the lights are dim
My chances of relaxin' are gettin' mighty slim
I close my eyes and wonder how long it's gonna be
I know I've got to travel, but the highway's killing me

Looking out the window, not a thing to see
Only my reflection staring back at me
I close my eyes and wonder how long it's gonna be
I know I've got to travel, but the highway's killing me

I get so weary, how can I rest
The road is rocky and I feel so depressed
I close my eyes and wonder how long it's gonna be




I know I've got to travel, but the highway's killing me
Mmmm...mmmm...mmmm...mmmm

Overall Meaning

The song "Highway" by Foghat is a blues-rock classic that touches on the weariness and fatigue that comes with constant travel. The song is about the exhaustion and monotony of life on the road, as the singer drives down a dark highway with dim lights and nothing but their own reflection to keep them company. The opening verse sets the somber mood, as the singer reflects on their chances of relaxing getting slimmer and slimmer. They close their eyes, praying for a reprieve from their travels, but all they can think about is how much the highway is taking its toll on them.


The second verse repeats the themes of the first, with the addition of the driver feeling "so depressed." The tiresome road is compared to a rocky path that offers no rest or comfort. The song's chorus then repeats the opening verse, with the singer acknowledging that they have to keep moving forward, even though the highway is slowly killing them.


Overall, "Highway" is a melancholy tune about the hardships of touring and the physical and emotional toll it can take on a person. The slow, steady beat and somber lyrics perfectly capture the feeling of driving down a long, dimly lit road with nothing but your thoughts as company.


Line by Line Meaning

Ridin' on the freeway, where the lights are dim
I am driving on the freeway where the lights are dim, suggesting the bleak hopelessness that my travel carries.


My chances of relaxin' are gettin' mighty slim
The act of relaxation has become more and more elusive, becoming less likely to happen along the way.


Looking out the window, not a thing to see
Just staring out the window, there isn't really anything to look at, just a desolate and monotonous view.


Only my reflection staring back at me
Only seeing myself in the reflection of the window, seeing how much of myself is reflected in the melancholy journey.


I get so weary, how can I rest
Feeling exhausted, unable to find escape and relaxation when on this journey brings about an absence of rest.


The road is rocky and I feel so depressed
Feeling an emotional weight from the troubled road ahead of me, feeling rooted in a sense of sadness and despair.


Mmmm...mmmm...mmmm...mmmm
The mmmmmms are an emotional expression, the definition of which is left to the listener's interpretation.


I close my eyes and wonder how long it's gonna be
Pausing, closing my eyes, and wondering how much longer this journey will go on and how much longer I will feel this way.


I know I've got to travel, but the highway's killing me
Understanding that the journey must continue, however, the highway is taking a toll on me and draining me of energy and vitality.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVID PEVERETT, RODERICK PRICE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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