At the time of his death, Hartford was also working on the biography of the blind fiddler Ed Haley. Hartford's album Wild Hog in the Red Bush is a collection of Haley's tunes. Hartford also provided narration for several of Ken Burns' documentaries.
Hartford was given a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
Hartford recorded more than 30 albums in his life, ranging across a broad spectrum of styles--from the traditional country of his early RCA recordings, to the new and experimental sound of his early newgrass recordings, to the traditional folk style to which he often returned later in his life. Hartford's albums also vary widely in formality, from the stately and orderly "Annual Waltz" to the rougher and less cut recordings that typified many of his later albums.
"Aereo-Plain" and "Morning Bugle" are often considered to be Hartford's most influential work, coming as they did at the very beginning of a period in which artists such as Hartford and the New Grass Revival, led by Sam Bush, would create a new form of country music, blending their country backgrounds with influences from another of other sources. His later years saw a number of live albums, as well as recordings that explored the repertoire of old-time folk music. He sketched the cover art for some of his mid-career albums, drawing with both hands simultaneously.
From the 1980s onwards, Hartford struggled with non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. On June 4, 2001 at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville, at age 63, he died of the disease.
Hartford is remembered as an influential and pioneering artist. Never bound by the limitations of one genre, he recorded wherever his interests led him. Performing and recording until his illness rendered him incapable of continuing, Hartford contributed a vast and unique body of work to the library of American music.
On The Road
John Hartford Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It gets cold don't you know, wont get home much this year
Back and forth up and down come'n out goin' round
making love comin' down, won't get home much this year
When I go I see things I see nights without end
It depends what they spend and its cold
I was out 90 days I could live any place
just a race to show my face on the road
Everyday its your turn, another verse to be earned
It's a road no big turn won't get home much this year
And the stories I will tell when I've none left to sell
What was/once had someplace else, won't get home much this year
On the road its your day gotta go gotta play
it's too short to be long so you know
When your on its all fun, got to play for everyone
Buts its so cold being alone on the road
Been a long night thats a fact, call me up we'll get back,
and though its easy to lose track won't get home much this year
When I go on the road I go fast I go slow
It gets cold don't you know, won't get home much this year
The lyrics to John Hartford’s “On the Road” speak to the experience of being a musician on tour. The song conveys the mixed feelings that come with being away from home for extended periods of time. Hartford describes the ups and downs of life on the road, with lines like “Back and forth up and down come’n out goin’ round” and “When I go I see things I see nights without end.”
The lyrics also highlight the loneliness and isolation of the touring lifestyle: “It's so cold being alone on the road” and “And though it's easy to lose track won't get home much this year.” The repetition of the phrase “won’t get home much this year” drives this point home, emphasizing the sense of longing for connection and stability that comes with being away from home.
Overall, John Hartford’s “On the Road” is a poignant and honest look at the life of a touring musician. It touches on the highs and lows of the experience, while acknowledging the emotional toll that being constantly on the move can take.
Line by Line Meaning
When I go on the road I go fast I go slow
My pace on the road varies from fast to slow.
It gets cold don't you know, wont get home much this year
The road can be a lonely and cold place, so I won't be spending much time at home this year.
Back and forth up and down come'n out goin' round making love comin' down, won't get home much this year
The ups and downs of life on the road can be a wild ride, but I won't be home much this year to settle down.
When I go I see things I see nights without end
Traveling exposes me to new things and experiences, even to long, never-ending nights.
It depends what they spend and its cold
The success of my time on the road depends on factors like the reactions of the audience, and the road can be chilled and lonely.
I was out 90 days I could live any place just a race to show my face on the road
I've been traveling for 90 days now, and could live anywhere. But the necessity of being seen on the road is like a race.
Everyday its your turn, another verse to be earned
Each day brings new demands and challenges, and the need to earn my place with a new verse, even on the road.
It's a road no big turn won't get home much this year
While the road remains straight and unpromising, I can't expect to return home often this year.
And the stories I will tell when I've none left to sell
As my stories from my time on the road eventually run out, it's uncertain what will be left to tell.
What was/once had someplace else, won't get home much this year
Looking back at what I had before, it's unlikely that I'll have much time to be home this year.
On the road its your day gotta go gotta play it's too short to be long so you know
Every day on the road is mine, and it's up to me to give my best performance. Time seems short, which drives me to make each day count.
When your on its all fun, got to play for everyone Buts its so cold being alone on the road
While performing for others might bring me pleasure, it can be a cold place when I'm left alone on the road.
Been a long night thats a fact, call me up we'll get back, and though its easy to lose track won't get home much this year
It's been a long and exhausting night, so if I need a call, I will return to the road again. Even if it's easy to get sidetracked, home is still far away this year.
Contributed by Aaron W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.