Lonesome Road
Gorilla Rodeo! Lyrics
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and the river boads are drouning in the sand.
Where the hin hindges of the window shutters grown
was my fathers home.
Where the schoolbells ringing way down lincoln square
and the sounds of broken playgrounds fill the air
I see skelletons of grayhouns ray and rust
and the trails in the dust.
when they dance in the dark.
And I'm all on my own
on that lone lonesome road.
I will roum till I'm old in my bones
and I'm waiting invane for the late evening train
to the day when it takes me away.
Where the neon temples glitter in the night
but there is noone to assemble in their light.
But shapord broke his crooket stuff and roared
out of the name of the lord.
On the portch I watched the pitchens fight the crombs
and the rain drops play the thin roof battle drums
I should find my self some sheltor I suppose
with the darks and the croos
where we all can live together safe and sound
in a hole in the ground.
And I'm all on my own
on that lone lonesome road.
I will roum till I'm old in my bones
and I'm waiting invane for the late evening train
to the day when it takes me away.
As the mountains crombled down and ozeans rise
and the countries gettin' old before my eyes.
Wallzing with the planets in the sky
turn the weals of time.
And I gaze up to the stars untill I sleep
see the blaze deep in my heart and in my dreams.
When everthing is dark the futures ride
and it feels allright.
I will rise up when I fly in to space
come the end of days.
And i'm all on my own
on that lone lonesome road.
I will roum till I'm old in my bones
and I'm waiting invane for the late evening train
to the day when it takes me away.
And i'm all on my own
on that lone lonesome road.
I will roum till I'm old in my bones
and I'm waiting invane for the late evening train
to the day when it takes me away.
The lyrics to "Lonesome Road" by Gorilla Rodeo are a reflection on the passing of time and the inevitability of change. The first verse describes a landscape in which firestorms rage and riverboats sink, a symbol of the destruction and decay that can happen over time. The singer's father's house has grown old, with the hinges of the window shutters rusted shut. However, memories of a more innocent time remain, as the singer remembers the sound of school bells and children playing in the park.
The second verse takes on a more spiritual tone, referencing "neon temples" that glitter in the night but aren't inhabited. The "shepherd" has abandoned his flock, leaving them to fend for themselves. The singer watches from the porch as chickens fight and rain falls on a thin roof. Despite the harshness of the landscape, the singer considers finding shelter with the "darks and the croos," a people who can live together "safe and sound in a hole in the ground."
The final verse takes a more optimistic turn, imagining a future in which the mountains crumble, the oceans rise, and the countries grow old. The singer imagines "waltzing with the planets in the sky" and gazing up at the stars. The singer is ready to rise up and fly into space at the end of days, while still wandering on that lonesome road.
Line by Line Meaning
Where the firestorms are howling through the land
In a place where there are terrible wildfires raging and causing destruction.
and the river boads are drouning in the sand.
The river has dried up and there is no water. The boats are stranded in the sand.
Where the hin hindges of the window shutters grown
The place is abandoned, and the window shutters are old and rusty.
was my fathers home.
This is where the artist's father used to live.
Where the schoolbells ringing way down lincoln square
In the town there is a school, and the sound of the school bell can be heard from Lincoln Square.
and the sounds of broken playgrounds fill the air
The playgrounds are in disrepair, and the sound of them being used is absent. Instead, there are creaking noises and rattling sounds.
I see skelletons of grayhouns ray and rust
There are remains of greyhound dogs lying around, covered in corrosion and rust.
and the trails in the dust.
The artist can see trails etched in the dust from where the greyhounds used to run.
And I still can hear the children in the park
Even though there are no playgrounds nearby, the artist can hear the sounds of children playing in a park.
when they dance in the dark.
The children are playing at night, dancing amongst the ruins of the park.
And I'm all on my own
The singer is alone, with no one around.
on that lone lonesome road.
The artist is walking down a solitary road feeling very lonely.
I will roum till I'm old in my bones
The singer will wander around aimlessly for the rest of their life.
and I'm waiting invane for the late evening train
The singer is hoping for a train to arrive, but there is no train coming no matter how long they wait.
to the day when it takes me away.
The singer is waiting for the day when they can leave this place on the train and go somewhere else.
Where the neon temples glitter in the night
There are brightly lit and flashy buildings in the town, which are like temples shining under the night sky.
but there is noone to assemble in their light.
Although there are many neon buildings, there are no people around to enjoy or use them.
But shapord broke his crooket stuff and roared
Shapord has broken their crooked cane and yelled out in frustration.
out of the name of the lord.
Shapord is invoking the name of the lord as they yell out in anger and frustration.
On the portch I watched the pitchens fight the crombs
From the porch, the artist observed two cats fighting over something.
and the rain drops play the thin roof battle drums
The sound of rain makes it seem like there is a battle happening on the roof overhead.
I should find my self some sheltor I suppose
The artist realizes they should find some shelter from the rain.
with the darks and the croos
The place they find to shelter is dark and filled with crows.
where we all can live together safe and sound
In this place they imagine, everyone can be peaceful and secure.
in a hole in the ground.
The imagined place of shelter is a hole in the ground, which is safe and hidden.
As the mountains crombled down and ozeans rise
The singer is watching the natural world around them changing, with mountains crumbling down and oceans rising.
and the countries gettin' old before my eyes.
The countries in the world are decaying, and it is visible to the singer.
Wallzing with the planets in the sky
As time moves on, the artist watches the planets moving through the night sky.
turn the weals of time.
Time is passing and moving forward, as seen by the turning of the wheels of time.
And I gaze up to the stars untill I sleep
Before the singer goes to sleep, they look up at the stars and contemplate the universe.
see the blaze deep in my heart and in my dreams.
The singer sees the fire within themselves, which they find inspiration and motivation in.
When everthing is dark the futures ride
When the future seems uncertain, there is still hope for something good to come.
and it feels allright.
The artist is comforted by this hope and feels everything will be okay.
I will rise up when I fly in to space
The artist imagines themselves flying into space and rising up above their problems.
come the end of days.
At the end of their life, the singer hopes to transcend into something greater.
And i'm all on my own
The artist is still alone, with no one around.
on that lone lonesome road.
The singer is still walking down the lonely road they began on.
I will roum till I'm old in my bones
The singer will wander for their entire life until they are too old to do so.
and I'm waiting invane for the late evening train
Even though the train is not coming, the singer still waits for it foolishly.
to the day when it takes me away.
The artist still has hope for a day when they can leave this place behind and begin anew.
Contributed by Alice J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.