Gilmore is a native of the Texas Panhandle, having been born in Amarillo, T… Read Full Bio ↴Gilmore is a native of the Texas Panhandle, having been born in Amarillo, Texas and raised in Lubbock, Texas. His earliest musical influence was Hank Williams and the honky tonk brand of country music that his father played. In the 1950s, he was exposed to the emerging rock and roll of other Texans such as Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Lubbock native Buddy Holly. He was profoundly influenced in the 1960s by the likes of The Beatles and Bob Dylan and the folk music and blues revival in that decade.

Gilmore also played "Smokey" in The Big Lebowski

Where You Going
Jimmie Dale Gilmore Lyrics

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I've seen crimson roses growing through a chain link fence
I've seen crystal visions sometimes they don't make sense
You can see the future, it don't make no difference
Just don't talk about it, babe you know I love the suspense

I once build a mansion, then I tore that mansion down
I fixed up the penthouse, one day I burned it to the ground
Working in the basement, trying not to make a sound

I just keep on building and that wheel just keeps turning 'round

I remember when she was everything, everything to me
When that hollow sun has finally fallen in the sea
Where you going, where you going, where you going to be

I've heard golden laughter glowing from the jailhouse walls
I have seen a garden growing where the rain don't fall
I would love to linger but I still hear the mountain call
You and I don't need goodbye we'll meet at the fountain after all

I remember when she was everything, everything to me

When that morning star comes rising from the silver sea
You'll be going, You'll be going, You'll be going with me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Jimmie Dale Gilmore's song "Where You Going" are filled with imagery and metaphors that explore the unpredictable nature of life and love. The first stanza highlights the beauty and complexity of life, as seen through the singer's observation of crimson roses growing through a chain link fence and crystal visions that sometimes don't make sense. The line "You can see the future, it don't make no difference" suggests that knowing what's to come doesn't guarantee anything, as life is full of unexpected twists and turns. The singer's affection for uncertainty is evident in the line "Just don't talk about it, babe you know I love the suspense."

The second stanza describes the impermanence of material possessions as the singer shares how they once built a mansion, then tore it down, and fixed up a penthouse only to burn it to the ground. This cycle is represented by the line "I just keep on building and that wheel just keeps turning 'round," suggesting that even when everything seems settled, change is always on the horizon.

The chorus brings a nostalgic tone into the mix as the singer remembers a person who was once everything to them. The idea of the "hollow sun" falling into the sea creates a melancholy image, emphasizing the loss the singer has experienced. The question "Where you going, where you going, where you going to be" implies a sense of uncertainty and perhaps even fear about what the future holds.

The third and final stanza reiterates the idea that life is full of contradictions and unexpected occurrences. The juxtaposition of "golden laughter glowing from the jailhouse walls" with "a garden growing where the rain don't fall" suggests that happiness and joy can still be found in unexpected places. The line "You and I don't need goodbye we'll meet at the fountain after all" provides a hopeful note, suggesting that even if life separates the singer and the person they're talking to, they'll meet again in the end.

Line by Line Meaning

I've seen crimson roses growing through a chain link fence
I have witnessed beauty in the most unexpected and unlikely of places.

I've seen crystal visions sometimes they don't make sense
I have had moments of clarity, but they are not always easy to interpret.

You can see the future, it don't make no difference
Having foreknowledge of what's to come won't necessarily change the outcome.

Just don't talk about it, babe you know I love the suspense
I prefer to live in the moment and allow life to unfold as it may, without revealing what may come next.

I once build a mansion, then I tore that mansion down
I have created and destroyed grand things, recognizing that material possessions are fleeting.

I fixed up the penthouse, one day I burned it to the ground
Even what I deem as success and achievement is not enough to hold my attention forever.

Working in the basement, trying not to make a sound
I continue to work hard and strive for my goals, often doing so without acknowledgment or recognition from others.

I just keep on building and that wheel just keeps turning 'round
Life continues, pushing forward regardless of whether I am building or tearing down, so I must continue to adapt and evolve.

I remember when she was everything, everything to me
I once had a love that consumed me entirely.

When that hollow sun has finally fallen in the sea
When the end of the world comes, either literally or figuratively, and all fades into nothingness.

Where you going, where you going, where you going to be
As I look ahead to the future, I wonder where life will take me and what will become of me.

I've heard golden laughter glowing from the jailhouse walls
Even in places of darkness and despair, there can still be moments of joy and lightness.

I have seen a garden growing where the rain don't fall
In unlikely and inhospitable conditions, there can be flourishing and growth.

I would love to linger but I still hear the mountain call
While I may enjoy moments of tranquility and comfort, I know there are greater things calling me forward.

You and I don't need goodbye we'll meet at the fountain after all
Even if we part ways, we will ultimately be reunited in the end to enjoy life's greater pleasures.

When that morning star comes rising from the silver sea
When new opportunities arise and life begins anew.

You'll be going, You'll be going, You'll be going with me
We will continue onward and experience life's ups and downs together, wherever it may lead us.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID ALLEN HAMMOND, JIMMIE DALE GILMORE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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