L.A. Freeway
Jerry Jeff Walker Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pack up all your dishes
Make note of all good wishes
Say goodbye to the landlord for me
That sum-bitch has always bored me

Throw out them old LA papers
And that moldy box of vanilla wafers
Adios to all this concrete
Gonna get me some dirt road back street

[Chorus]
If I can just get off of that L.A. freeway
Without getting killed or caught
Down that road in a cloud of smoke
For some land that I ain't bought bought bought
If I can just get off of that L.A. freeway

Here's to you old skinny Dennis
Only one I think I will miss
I can hear your Bassman singin'
Sweet and low like a gift your bringin'

Play it for me one more time now
Got to give it all we can now
I believe everything your saying
Just keep on keep on playing

[Chorus]

Put the pink slip in the mailbox
Leave the key in the old front door lock
They will find it likely as not
With all the things that we have forgot
Oh Susanna now don't you cry, babe
Love's a gift that's surely handmade
We've got something to believe in
Before you know it's time we're leavin'





[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The song L.A. Freeway by Jerry Jeff Walker is about his desire to leave Los Angeles for a simpler life in the countryside. The lyrics describe the process of packing up and leaving, including saying goodbye to the landlord and throwing out old possessions. Walker expresses his contempt for city life, singing about the "concrete" and his desire for "dirt road back street". The chorus references his fear of getting caught or killed while trying to leave the city and his desire to find some land to live on.


The second verse is a tribute to "skinny Dennis", a fellow musician who may have also been looking to escape the city. Walker praises his friend's singing and encourages him to keep playing. The final verse is about leaving behind the old life, including leaving the key in the door and the pink slip in the mailbox. Walker assures his lover, Susanna, that their love is something to believe in and that they have something special before they leave.


Line by Line Meaning

Pack up all your dishes
Start collecting all of your belongings, starting with the dishes.


Make note of all good wishes
Take a moment to remember and express gratitude for all of the well-wishes others have given you.


Say goodbye to the landlord for me
Please convey my farewell to the landlord.


That sum-bitch has always bored me
I've always been bored of that guy.


Throw out them old LA papers
Get rid of those outdated papers from Los Angeles.


And that moldy box of vanilla wafers
Also toss the old box of vanilla wafers that has gone bad.


Adios to all this concrete
Goodbye to all the concrete and city life.


Gonna get me some dirt road back street
I'm going to seek out and find some peaceful, dirt backroads.


If I can just get off of that L.A. freeway
I really need to get away from the congested L.A. freeways.


Without getting killed or caught
I need to do this without any negative consequences or obstacles.


Down that road in a cloud of smoke
I want to speed away down the road in a dramatic fashion.


For some land that I ain't bought bought bought
I'm on a journey to find land I haven't purchased yet.


Here's to you old skinny Dennis
A tribute to the one and only skinny Dennis.


Only one I think I will miss
He's the only person I think I'll miss from this place.


I can hear your Bassman singin'
I still hear the sound of your Bassman playing.


Sweet and low like a gift your bringin'
It's such a sweet and low sound, like a gift I'm receiving.


Play it for me one more time now
One more time! Play it for me!


Got to give it all we can now
Put all our effort into this, let's go all in.


I believe everything you're saying
I have complete trust in you and what you're telling me.


Just keep on keep on playing
Don't stop playing, keep going.


Put the pink slip in the mailbox
Leave the car registration in the mailbox.


Leave the key in the old front door lock
Also leave the key in the old front door lock for the next occupant.


They will find it likely as not
It's very probable that they will find it.


With all the things that we have forgot
Everything we've forgotten in the time we've been here.


Oh Susanna now don't you cry, babe
Comforting words to someone named Susanna who is feeling sad about the departure.


Love's a gift that's surely handmade
Love is a unique and special gift, crafted just for us.


We've got something to believe in
We have something special that we both believe in.


Before you know it's time we're leavin'
Time goes by so fast and before we know it, it's time to leave.




Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GUY CLARK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

Michael McKnight

This song still moves me after all these years. A classic! Well done

David Wood

Started listening to Jerry Jeff at 16.Under the influence of him and Jack Kerouac by 19 I hitch hiked from Jersey up through Canada to California and back with a friend. Best summer of my life. Still a huge fan, and still makes me laugh and cry. RIP

Keck Outdoors

Another country legend lost to soon rest in peace Jerry Jeff you will be missed

Wander-A-Lot Travel

Loved his music. He will be impossible for the new crowd of so-called musicians to replace

Texas2Step

My husband and I were married in Austin, 45 years ago, when Jerry Jeff was part of the founding of the Austin sound. We'd listen to his records, and saw him live once, when we were living in Baton Rouge in the early 90's. When I read of his passing this morning, I told my husband, and flashed back to being 20 years old again, and playing this album, with so many others, over and over. Austin City Limits, Armadillo World Headquarters, Luckenbach... Yes, Jerry Jeff, one of a kind, will be sorely missed. May he truly rest in peace.

PowPowRelay

@Wander-A-Lot Travel you said it

Julie Kentera

RIP. Good times were had with this song as the soundtrack.

Benchomp

So many gone, but we'll always have the music. I missed the chance to see Guy Clark, never got the chance to Jerry Jeff, and I'll always regret both.

7 More Replies...

Beuller7

RIP Jerry Jeff Walker. This song in particular made living in L.A. bearable for me in the years before I finally moved. It gave me something to look forward to: namely, getting the hell outta L.A. and CA. And three months ago, you better believe I played this song any number of times in celebration while in the moving van. Thank you, Mr. Walker and RIP.

huckhockey

when were u there ? i was there from 90 - 2002; i miss it. i'm in boston

More Comments

More Versions