The Wanderer
Johnny Cash猀 Lyrics
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Through streets paved with gold
Lifted some stones
Saw the skin and bones
Of a city without a soul
I went out walking
Under an atomic sky
Where the ground won't turn
Like the tears when I said goodbye
Yeah I went with nothing
Nothing but the thought of you
I went wandering
I went drifting
Through the capitals of tin
Where men can't walk
Or freely talk
And sons turn their fathers in
I stopped outside a church house
Where the citizens like to sit
They say they want the kingdom
But they don't want God in it
I went out riding
Down that old eight lane
I passed by a thousand signs
Looking for my own name
I went with nothing
But the thought you'd be there too
Looking for you
I went out there
In search of experience
To taste and to touch
And to feel as much
As a man can
Before he repents
I went out searching
Looking for one good man
A spirit who would not bend or break
Who would sit at his father's right hand
I went out walking
With a bible and a gun
The word of God lay heavy on my heart
I was sure I was the one
Now Jesus, don't you wait up
Jesus, I'll be home soon
Yeah I went out for the papers
Told her I'd be back by noon
Yeah I left with nothing
But the thought you'd be there too
Looking for you
Yeah I left with nothing
Nothing but the thought of you
I went wandering
Oh ho
, Johnny Cash's "The Wanderer" is a poetic and introspective journey through the mind of a man who has lost himself in search of his place in the world. Cash begins with a surreal image of a city without a soul, where the streets are paved with gold but there is no life beneath the surface. The setting then shifts to a post-apocalyptic landscape where the rain burns like tears, and the ground stands still under an atomic sky.
The singer then moves on to a series of encounters, first with a society that wants the kingdom without God, then with a city of tin where men cannot talk freely and sons betray their fathers. Eventually, he finds himself searching for a good man, someone who can stand at his father's right hand. He carries a bible and a gun, implying that he believes he is the man he seeks. The song ends with a reversal of the opening line, as the singer sets out again on his wandering, this time with the thought of the person he is searching for as his only guide.
Overall, "The Wanderer" is a meditation on the human condition, the search for meaning, and the loneliness of the individual in a society that has lost its soul. It speaks to the universal desire for connection and purpose and the pain that comes with the realization that these things cannot be found in material wealth or power.
Line by Line Meaning
I went out walking
I began a journey on foot
Through streets paved with gold
The streets that I walked on were luxurious and prosperous
Lifted some stones
I moved some rocks or debris out of curiosity or interest
Saw the skin and bones
I witnessed the physical decay and deterioration of a city
Of a city without a soul
The city was devoid of any real meaning or depth
I went out walking
I resumed my journey on foot
Under an atomic sky
The sky was contaminated with radiation and destruction
Where the ground won't turn
The earth no longer conforms to its basic function of rotation
And the rain it burns
The rainfall is toxic or acidic in nature
Like the tears when I said goodbye
The rain reminded me of the pain and sorrow of leaving someone behind
Yeah I went with nothing
I embarked on this journey with nothing but my own thoughts
Nothing but the thought of you
The motivation for my journey was solely the desire to find the person I missed and longed for
I went wandering
I traveled without a specific destination or purpose
I went drifting
I proceeded aimlessly through different locations
Through the capitals of tin
I journeyed through regions or cities that were superficial or materialistic in nature
Where men can't walk
The individuals in these locations are hindered or restricted in their abilities to move or progress
Or freely talk
The people within these locales are unable to express themselves without reservation or fear
And sons turn their fathers in
Sons are betraying their parental figures and reporting them to authorities or law enforcement
I stopped outside a church house
I paused in front of a religious establishment
Where the citizens like to sit
This is a place where locals gather and linger
They say they want the kingdom
The people here have expressed a desire for an ideal or perfect existence
But they don't want God in it
The people in this location do not want to rely on or prioritize religious faith or beliefs
I went out riding
I left on horseback or in a vehicle
Down that old eight lane
I traveled through an expressway or main road
I passed by a thousand signs
I encountered numerous advertisements, directions or messages along the way
Looking for my own name
I am in search of my own identity or self-actualization
But the thought you'd be there too
Throughout the journey, my mind was filled with the hope and dream of being reunited with you
Looking for you
I am actively searching for you
In search of experience
I am on the hunt for new and unique experiences
To taste and to touch
I want to personally experience or interact with various things
And to feel as much
I want to be emotionally stimulated and invigorated on this journey
As a man can
I want to immerse myself in as many worthwhile experiences as I can
Before he repents
I want to live fully and freely before I settle down or atone for wrongdoing
I went out searching
I resumed my journey, this time intently searching for something
Looking for one good man
I am searching for someone who is honorable and just
A spirit who would not bend or break
I am seeking an individual who is strong and unyielding
Who would sit at his father's right hand
I am searching for someone who would earn a place of honor next to a powerful figure
With a bible and a gun
I am equipped with both religious faith and physical weaponry
The word of God lay heavy on my heart
My religious beliefs weigh heavily on my emotions and actions
I was sure I was the one
I possess the conviction and confidence that I am the chosen one
Now Jesus, don't you wait up
I am speaking to Jesus asking him not to hold me back or wait for me
Jesus, I'll be home soon
I am assuring Jesus that I will return to him in the end
Yeah I went out for the papers
I have temporarily left to purchase a newspaper or magazine
Told her I'd be back by noon
I have informed my significant other that I would return by noon
Yeah I left with nothing
I departed without any significant possessions or materialistic items
Yeah I left with nothing
Again, I reiterate that I departed without anything valuable or meaningful
Nothing but the thought of you
My main motivation and inspiration on this journey is the thought of reuniting with you
I went wandering
I continued traveling without a defined destination
Oh ho
This sounds like an expression of curiosity or excitement
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM CLAYTON, DAVE EVANS, LARRY MULLEN, PAUL HEWSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind