Troyal Garth Brooks (born February 7, 1962 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is an Americ… Read Full Bio ↴Troyal Garth Brooks (born February 7, 1962 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is an American country music singer songwriter and charity director.

Brooks was a phenomenal musical force in the 1990s. He had his chart breakthrough in 1989, having come apparently from nowhere, and was an immediate commercial success. Lacking the tall and lanky physical appearance typical of some male country stars, he successfully integrated pop and rock elements into his recordings and live performances. He soon began to dominate the country singles and country albums charts and quickly crossed over into the mainstream pop arena, selling records like no one else in country music ever had and exposing country music to a larger audience than previously thought possible.

Brooks enjoyed one of the most successful careers in popular music history, with over 70 hit singles and 15 charted albums to his credit and over 115 million albums sold in the US alone, breaking records for both sales and concert attendance throughout the 1990s. Possibly dissatisfied and looking to expand his career boundaries, he then attempted an artistically ambitious (but uncompleted) multimedia project involving a fictitious alter ego.

Troubled by the conflicts between career and family, the year after the decade ended Garth Brooks announced his retirement from recording and performing, thereby disappearing from the music world as suddenly as he had come.

Recently he has announced his return to live performances by agreeing to a 5 year 15 show a year contract in Vegas. His plan is to finish this contract, write some new stuff, and wait for his youngest daughter to go off to school, and then he plans to return to touring with his wife.

Cold Shoulder
Garth Brooks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

There's a fire burning bright
At our house tonight
Slow music playing
And soft candlelight
On her lips I keep tasting
The warm red wine
I'm there in her arms
But it's all in my mind

The snow is piled high on the highway tonight
I'm a ship lost at sea on this ocean of white
Eighteen wheels anchored somewhere out of Dover
I wish I could hold her
Instead of huggin' this old cold shoulder

This old highway
Is like a woman sometimes
She can be your best friend
But she's the real jealous kind
She's the lady that leads me
To the life I dream of
She's the mistress that keeps me
From the ones that I love
The snow is piled high on the highway tonight
I'm a ship lost at sea on this ocean of white
Eighteen wheels anchored somewhere out of Dover
I wish I could hold her
Instead of huggin' this old cold shoulder

God, I wish I could hold her
Instead of huggin' this old cold shoulder

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Garth Brooks's song Cold Shoulder paint a picture of a man who is physically away from his loved one, stuck on a snowy highway in a truck. He longs to be with his partner who is at home waiting with the fire burning bright and soft candlelight. Though he reminisces about the moments he has spent with her, it is all in his mind. The snow is blocking his way, and the eighteen wheels he relies on to make a living are anchored somewhere out of Dover. The highway is like a woman who can be both a best friend and a jealous mistress. It leads him to the life he dreams of, but it keeps him away from the ones he loves. He wishes he could hold his loved one instead of hugging his old cold shoulder.

The song appears to be about the sacrifice that comes with a career that takes a person away from their loved ones. The lyrics highlight the loneliness felt by truck drivers working long hours on the road. It also points out the emotional toll it takes on them to be away from their partners and families for extended periods. The highway serves as a motif for the trucker's profession and the loneliness, envy, and unfulfilled yearning that accompanies it. The song's title, Cold Shoulder, underscores the overarching theme of loneliness and the painful yearning for the warmth of companionship.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a fire burning bright
Their home is filled with passion and warmth.

At our house tonight
They are together and enjoying each other's company.

Slow music playing
They are in a romantic setting with music that matches the mood.

And soft candlelight
The lighting creates a warm and intimate atmosphere.

On her lips I keep tasting
He is constantly kissing her and enjoying the taste of the wine they are drinking.

The warm red wine
They are drinking a rich and satisfying wine.

I'm there in her arms
He feels close to her and is holding her close.

But it's all in my mind
He is imagining this scenario and is not actually with her.

The snow is piled high on the highway tonight
The weather outside is severe, making it difficult to travel.

I'm a ship lost at sea on this ocean of white
He feels isolated and alone in the harsh winter landscape.

Eighteen wheels anchored somewhere out of Dover
He is a long-haul truck driver, currently stuck in a location near Dover.

I wish I could hold her
He longs for his lover's embrace.

Instead of huggin' this old cold shoulder
He is using the truck's steering wheel as a substitute for her embrace.

This old highway
The road he travels on is old and well-worn.

Is like a woman sometimes
He sees the road as having feminine characteristics.

She can be your best friend
The road can be a reliable and supportive companion.

But she's the real jealous kind
The road can be possessive and keep him from those he loves.

She's the lady that leads me
The road takes him to where he needs to go.

To the life I dream of
The road helps him achieve his goals.

She's the mistress that keeps me
The road is like a lover, holding him back from his true love.

From the ones that I love
The road is keeping him from being with his lover.

God, I wish I could hold her
His desire for his lover's touch is intense and heartfelt.

Instead of huggin' this old cold shoulder
He wishes he could be with her physically instead of using his truck's steering wheel as a stand-in.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BLAZY, BROOKS, WILLIAMS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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