Though Ketchum first began recording in the mid-1980s, not until his 1991 record deal with Curb Records did he have a major hit with the album Past The Point Of Rescue. The title cut to the album was a Top 3 single, and other singles that met similar success included "Small Town Saturday Night" and "Sure Love".
In 1994 Ketchum toured Britain, issuing the single "Past The Point Of Rescue" on that side of the Atlantic. Though the single failed to make the UK Top 100 pop charts, it received extensive airplay on country radio. The album Every Little Word (of which the UK release featured a bonus disc of past US hits including "Past The Point...") made the Top 40 on the UK country charts and also did the same back in the US.
Ketchum continued to record and release new material. His final US releases were Father Time in 2008, and I'm the Troubadour in 2014.
His film credits included appearing in the 1988 film Heartbreak Hotel and a small role in the 1994 film Maverick.
Mama Knows the Highway
Hal Ketchum Lyrics
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When she hears a good one, she always sings along
She don't ever worry about what's gone
She says good country music will never steer you wrong
She talks to the truckers with her lights
Maybe just a little bit more on Saturday nights
She knows a good road to paradise
[Chorus]
Yeah, Mama knows the highway now by heart
She can see the rain before it starts
Looking clear through, a windshield full of stars
Mama knows the highway now by heart
She can tell Wyoming by the wind
She can tell another trucker by the rig that he's in
She knows how to watch the river bends
She knows where the real South begins
[Chorus]
She can gauge a cafe just by looking at the sign
Little old places always share the grand design
Mama knows the highway now by heart
She can see the rain before it starts
Looking clear through, a windshield full of stars
Mama knows the highway now by heart
Mama knows the highway now by heart
Mama knows the highway, yeah, yeah, yeah
The song "Mama Knows the Highway" by Hal Ketchum is a tribute to a mother who is a seasoned truck driver. The lyrics describe how the mother has just about memorized every inch of the highway, and every little detail of the towns and cities she passes through while on the road. She is an expert in country music and can sing along to any good song that comes on the radio. She is never overwhelmed by the difficult and long journeys that come with driving a large truck across the country, saying that good country music will never steer you wrong.
The song is filled with vivid and descriptive imagery, creating a picture of a tough and determined mother who faces the ups and downs of the road with unwavering confidence. She talks to other truckers with her lights, and knows a good road to paradise. She is able to predict weather patterns and feels at home on the open road. The chorus of the song is a tribute to her unwavering strength and endurance, as she is able to see the rain before it starts and knows the highway by heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Mama knows the highway by the songs
Mama has driven on the highways so much that she can recognize routes by the local songs played on the radio.
When she hears a good one, she always sings along
Whenever Mama hears a song that reminds her of a familiar highway, she sings along with it.
She don't ever worry about what's gone
Mama doesn't worry about the past events or the incidents that already happened on the highway.
She says good country music will never steer you wrong
Mama believes that listening to good old country music while driving will always guide you in the right direction.
She talks to the truckers with her lights
Mama communicates with other truck drivers by flashing her headlights.
Maybe just a little bit more on Saturday nights
On Saturday nights, Mama uses her headlights more frequently to converse with fellow drivers.
She knows a good road to paradise
Mama has figured out a beautiful route that leads to an ideal destination.
And that's just enough to keep the highway bright
The bright route and Mama's presence illuminate and lift the mood of the otherwise monotonous highway.
[Chorus]
The chorus is the same as the previous one with a slight variation in the last line.
She can tell Wyoming by the wind
Mama is familiar with the specific weather patterns that occur when driving through Wyoming, indicating that she has traveled extensively.
She can tell another trucker by the rig that he's in
Not only can Mama recognize routes, but also the trucks that can be commonly found on them.
She knows how to watch the river bends
Mama is skilled at navigating roads with curves and bends that cross rivers.
She knows where the real South begins
Mama is well-versed in the geography of the region, including where the South really starts.
[Chorus]
The chorus is repeated, underscoring Mama's familiarity with the highways and her ability to predict weather.
She can gauge a cafe just by looking at the sign
Mama can tell whether a roadside cafe is worth her time or not, based on the appearance of its sign.
Little old places always share the grand design
Mama believes that even small diners or cafeterias have a picturesque charm and beauty.
Mama knows the highway now by heart
Mama has become a seasoned veteran of the road and knows the highways like the back of her hand.
She can see the rain before it starts
Mama is familiar with the signs of an incoming rain shower, which allows her to take precautions beforehand.
Looking clear through, a windshield full of stars
Mama can see the stars through the windshield, signifying her pure love for the open road and its phenomena.
Mama knows the highway now by heart
The chorus is repeated one final time, emphasizing Mama's love and mastery of the highways.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHARLES JOHN QUARTO, PETE WASNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind