End of the Road
Goodnight Texas Lyrics
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They're black and white and red on the head
Twenty-one hens, living in pens
The rooster know how to crow
Mama said she's gonna kill the rooster this summer
Won't be sleeping in the winter if he's crowing like a sinner
I don't wanna kill him, maybe we can sell him
The end of the road, the man's so old
Lives all alone with his dogs and his gold
Ain't got a rooster, know that he used to
Maybe I'll pay him a visit in the morning
One of the chickens had slim pickins
Wandered all around 'til it died
My little sister picked her up, kissed her
Brought her into mama and cried
She's only seven, going on eleven
Going on twenty-five
She could plow a heel with the back of her heel
She's the worker and the queen of the hive
Chickens in the meadow, brown and yellow
I can't keep track of the spots on their back
Rained for a minute, we danced in it
Maybe the mountain won't die
I wanna go and see what I know and
Learn if you love me true
And when I come home, if I feel all alone
Gonna sidle up next to you
In "End of the Road," Goodnight Texas paints a vivid picture of rural life and the everyday chores that come with it. The opening lines describe the various colors of the chickens in the meadow, emphasizing the vibrant and diverse life on the farm. The singer then mentions that there are twenty-one hens, all living in pens. Throughout the song, the singer demonstrates a love for the life they lead, even in its hardships. Mama threatens to kill the rooster, for example, but the singer doesn't want to see it happen. Instead, they suggest selling it to the man at the end of the road, a character described as old, with dogs and gold. It's clear that the singer is part of a close-knit community, where neighbors are never too far away.
Line by Line Meaning
Chickens in the meadow, they're brown and yellow
The meadow is full of chickens, some of which are brown and some of which are yellow.
They're black and white and red on the head
These chickens also come in many other colors like black, white, and red.
Twenty-one hens, living in pens
There are 21 hens living in cages.
The rooster know how to crow
The rooster knows how to make its sound.
Mama said she's gonna kill the rooster this summer
The mother plans to kill the rooster soon.
Won't be sleeping in the winter if he's crowing like a sinner
If the rooster keeps making a lot of noise, people won't be able to sleep.
I don't wanna kill him, maybe we can sell him
The singer doesn't want to kill the rooster but wants to sell him instead.
Sell him to the man at the end of the road
The singer wants to sell the rooster to a man who lives at the end of the road.
The end of the road, the man's so old
The old man lives at the end of the road.
Lives all alone with his dogs and his gold
The old man lives by himself, except for his dogs and his gold.
Ain't got a rooster, know that he used to
The old man used to have a rooster, but he doesn't have one now.
Maybe I'll pay him a visit in the morning
The singer plans to visit the old man in the morning.
One of the chickens had slim pickins
One of the chickens was very thin and unhealthy.
Wandered all around 'til it died
The chicken wandered around aimlessly until it died.
My little sister picked her up, kissed her
The singer's sister picked up the dead chicken and kissed it.
Brought her into mama and cried
The sister brought the chicken to their mom and cried.
She's only seven, going on eleven
The sister is only seven years old but acts older.
Going on twenty-five
The sister acts even older than she is.
She could plow a heel with the back of her heel
The sister is a hard worker and can accomplish difficult tasks.
She's the worker and the queen of the hive
The sister is both a worker and the leader in the family.
I can't keep track of the spots on their back
The singer can't keep track of all the different colors and markings on the chickens' feathers.
Rained for a minute, we danced in it
The rain only lasted a short time, but the singer and their family danced in it.
Maybe the mountain won't die
The mountain may not erode away or die.
I wanna go and see what I know
The singer wants to explore what they already understand.
and learn if you love me true
The singer wants to figure out if their love interest truly loves them.
And when I come home, if I feel all alone
If the singer feels lonely after exploring the world, they'll come back home.
Gonna sidle up next to you
The singer will come and stand close to their love interest when they return home.
Contributed by Nora L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.