Dark Road
HAWLEY Richard Lyrics

In the haunting and melancholic "Dark Road," Richard Hawley sings about the isolation and loneliness of a wanderer, who is trapped in a never-ending journey. In the opening lines, he describes the road as his home, but it is a deserted and bleak place that he is doomed to traverse. The repetition of the phrase "It's a long dark road" emphasizes the despair and hopelessness of the singer's situation, and the use of the word "cursed" suggests that he is not here by choice.

Hawley delves into the psyche of such a wanderer, capturing his alienation from society and his utter dependence on nature. The only company he has is that of the stars, and he has to make do with just a bedroll and a blanket. The rocks have become a substitute for a comfortable bed, and he has been forced to adapt to his surroundings. In the absence of any human interaction, the wanderer's only solace is in the natural world.

The final lines in the song bring a flicker of hope to the proceedings, as the wanderer speaks of knocking on someone's door, never to walk the road again. However, the precise nature of this meeting is left to the listener's interpretation. It could be a literal knocking on someone's door or a metaphorical one, where the wanderer finally escapes his loneliness, finding a way back into society. Nonetheless, the theme of closure runs strong throughout the song, and the idea of the singer leaving the darkness behind resonates with the listener.