Fred Eaglesmith (born as Frederick Elgersma on July 9, 1957 in Caistor Cent… Read Full Bio ↴Fred Eaglesmith (born as Frederick Elgersma on July 9, 1957 in Caistor Centre, Ontario, Canada) is a Canadian alternative country singer-songwriter. Some of his albums have been credited to Fred J. Eaglesmith. Eaglesmith was one of nine children of an immigrant family from the Dutch province Friesland and raised in rural Southern Ontario. As a teenager, he hopped a freight train out to Western Canada, and began writing songs and performing. He is known for writing songs about machines or vehicles, including songs about trains, tractors, trucks, cars, and engines. Rural life, dogs, guns, drinking and farming/ranching are other common themes. Many of his songs are about failing farms and small businesses. Eaglesmith's songs are populated with down and out characters dealing with loss of love or livelihood, and quirky rural folk. His songwriting uses many of the techniques of short-story writing, including unreliable narrators, surprise endings, and plot twists.

In addition to his own albums, Eaglesmith frequently collaborated with the late Willie P. Bennett, a past member of Eaglesmith's band, who had to step down after a heart attack in spring 2007. Eaglesmith's fans are known as Fredheads because of the similarities to deadheads. He has appeared in several movies, including "The Gift" and "50 Odd Dollars." His band is known as The Flying Squirrels or The Flathead Noodlers. Both bands have the same lineup, but play different styles. The Flathead Noodlers play bluegrass, while the Flying Squirrels play more folk and rock. An early incarnation of the band was known as The Smokin' Losers. When Fred does solo appearances he bills himself as Fred J. Eaglesmith. In addition to the songs, a typical Fred Eaglesmith show includes several lengthy between-song comic monologues by Fred. Topics in the past have included stories about crossing the U.S./Canada border, Newfoundlanders, and some friends from an Indian reserve. Eaglesmith is the owner and president of A Major Label, which publishes his records.

Current band members
* Fred J. Eaglesmith - Guitars, Vocals
* Matt Simpson - Acoustic guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
* Kori Heppner - Drums
* Luke Stackhouse - Bass, Vocals

Former members
* Willie P. Bennett - Mandolin, Harmonica, Vocals
* David Essig - Mandolin, Guitar
* Kevin Komatsu - Drums
* Roger Marin Jr. - Pedal Steel, Guitar, Vocals
* Ralph Schipper - Bass
* Jude Waldman - Drums
* Dan Walsh - Dobro, Guitar, Vocals
* Skip Wamsteeker - Drums
* Washboard Hank - Washboard, Dobro
* Darcy Yates - Bass

Discography
* Fred Eaglesmith (1980)
* The Boy That Just Went Wrong (1983)
* Indiana Road (1987)
* There Ain't No Easy Road (1991)
* Things Is Changin' (1993)
* Paradise Motel (1994)
* Drive-In Movie (1995)
* Lipstick, Lies and Gasoline (1997)
* 50 Odd Dollars (1999)
* Live: Ralph's Last Show (2001)
* Falling Stars and Broken Hearts (2002)
* The Official Bootleg Series, Vol. 1' (2002)
* Balin (2003)
* The Official Bootleg Series, Vol. 2' (2004)
* Dusty (2004)
* Milly's Cafe (2006)
* Tinderbox (2008)

www.fredeaglesmith.com

wheels
Fred Eaglesmith Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wheels a sun shiny day
Wheels a top down parade
Wheels heat off the pavement
Make you want to steal
Wheels

Wheels the black top is seething
Wheels somebody’s grieving

Wheels somebody’s leaving
Tires squeal
Wheels

I got a ring
I was going to give her
I got a ring to put on her finger
I got a love
She just doesn’t feel
No big deal
Cause I got wheels

Wheels my foot to the floor
Wheels til I can’t drive no more
I believed I believed
But it just wasn’t real
No big deal
I got wheels

No big deal
I got wheels

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song "Wheels" by Fred Eaglesmith capture the essence of car culture in America. The title itself is a reference to the circular rubber tires that are responsible for a vehicle's motion. In the first verse, the lyrics paint a picture of a bright, sunny day with a top-down parade of cars. The heat from the pavement and the excitement of the moment are so intense that they could make someone want to steal a car. The chorus repeats the word "wheels" as a metaphor for the thrill and freedom of driving.

The second verse takes a darker turn by acknowledging that for some people, the need for wheels is more desperate. The blacktop is seething and somebody's grieving, and somebody else is leaving. The tires squeal, suggesting a sense of urgency or danger. The third verse reveals that the singer has a ring that he was going to give to someone he loves, but she doesn't feel the same. The line "I believed, I believed but it just wasn't real" suggests that the singer's faith in the relationship was misplaced, and that he is resigned to his fate. The repetition of the phrase "no big deal" reinforces that sentiment.

Line by Line Meaning

Wheels a sun shiny day
Driving under the bright sun brings happiness and a feeling of freedom.

Wheels a top down parade
Driving with the top of the car down is like taking part in a parade, showing off and enjoying yourself.

Wheels heat off the pavement
The heat emanating from the road while driving in the summer can be pleasant and satisfying.

Make you want to steal
The thrill of driving a car can be so intense that it may make you want to steal one to experience it again.

Wheels the black top is seething
The sight of the hot, melting asphalt during summer can be overwhelming and intimidating.

Wheels somebody’s grieving
The sound of wheels can evoke feelings of sorrow and loss within those who have experienced a tragedy involving cars and driving.

Wheels somebody’s leaving
Driving away in a car can signify leaving behind people or problems, implying a desire for escape and adventure.

Tires squeal
A sudden braking or turning of the wheels can cause the tires to make a loud, high-pitched sound that may indicate danger or excitement.

I got a ring
The artist possesses a symbol of love that he intended to present to his lover.

I was going to give her
The artist had hopes of offering the ring to his lover as a gesture of commitment and affection.

I got a ring to put on her finger
The singer had planned to propose to his lover with the ring, envisioning a future of marriage and happiness.

I got a love
The artist feels deeply in love with his partner.

She just doesn’t feel
Despite the singer's love for his partner, she does not reciprocate his feelings, causing him sadness and disappointment.

No big deal
Though they were not meant to be, the singer is not devastated by the loss of his lover.

Cause I got wheels
The singer finds comfort and solace in the fact that he can always drive away from his problems and seek adventure with his car.

Wheels my foot to the floor
Accelerating the car to the maximum feels empowering and thrilling to the driver.

Wheels til I can’t drive no more
Driving without a break for a long time can be exhausting and may even cause mechanical failure in the vehicle.

I believed I believed
The singer was once a true believer in love and its power.

But it just wasn’t real
The singer now realizes that his belief in love was unfounded and ultimately did not lead him to the happiness he had hoped for.

I got wheels
Despite failing in love, the artist takes comfort in the fact that he has his car to turn to, and he can always drive away from his problems.

Contributed by Violet L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS