Roll My Blues
Jolie Holland Lyrics
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River's roarin' on before me, and I look down at my reflection:
Where it's headed, no direction.
River, won't you roll my blues away?
All my life I've been alone and never have I had a home until you came.
But now love's gone bad, its kind of sad,
But I guess that I'm to blame,
Oh never have I longed so dearly
My mind sees you oh so clearly
Freight train is comin' fast and strong,
Steady rolling on and on
Freight train, won't you roll my blues away?
All my life, I can see that I have fallen from your grace
Which was my calling
West wind is blowin' hard against me,
Flat out road is all that I see
Highway, won't you roll my blues away?
All my life I've been alone
And never have I had a home
Until you came, but now love's gone bad.
It's kind of sad,
But I guess that I'm to blame cause I'm just untamed.
The opening verse of Jolie Holland's "Roll My Blues" is a depiction of a person who is completely lost, possibly due to being under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The river roaring in front of her symbolizes the confusion and uncertainty she feels about her present and future. She's looking down at her reflection and realizing that she has no idea where she is headed. This feeling of being directionless is further emphasized by the line, "Where it's headed, no direction." She's deep in her thoughts, feeling knocked out by life's challenges, and unable to find a way out.
The chorus of the song shows that the river, which once brought comfort and hope to her life, has become the only solution to her current predicament. She pleads with the river, "River, won't you roll my blues away?" She's asking the river to wash away all the negative emotions that she feels, especially after love has gone bad. She reflects on the fact that she'd been alone all her life until love came and how she lost it all, and now she's blaming herself for it, because she's untamed.
The next verse uses a freight train to depict her moving on, just like the train that keeps rolling on and on. The highway, in the final verse, represents the possibilities and optimism of new beginnings. However, she's still feeling the pain of love lost, and she's uncertain about where she's headed in life. The song's overall message is that life is full of uncertainties, but sometimes you just have to let go and let the river, freight train, or highway roll your blues away.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been knocked out, drugged and loaded,
I've been through tough times and difficult situations, feeling dazed and overwhelmed
River's roarin' on before me, and I look down at my reflection:
I'm facing the relentless flow of life and taking a moment to reflect on where I stand
Where it's headed, no direction.
I feel lost and uncertain about the future
River, won't you roll my blues away?
I'm asking the river, as a symbol of change and renewal, to help me overcome my sorrows and hardships
All my life I've been alone and never have I had a home until you came.
I've always felt disconnected and rootless, until I found something or someone that made me feel at ease
But now love's gone bad, its kind of sad,
I've lost the love and affection that gave me comfort, and it hurts
But I guess that I'm to blame,
I admit that I may have contributed to the failure of my relationship
Cause I'm just untamed.
I'm a free spirit who follows my instincts and desires, even if it means taking risks and making mistakes
Oh never have I longed so dearly
I've never felt such a strong desire or longing before
My mind sees you oh so clearly
I can visualize and remember you vividly in my thoughts
Freight train is comin' fast and strong,
I'm facing an unstoppable force, something that can't be stopped or avoided
Steady rolling on and on
It keeps going relentlessly and without pause
Freight train, won't you roll my blues away?
I'm asking the train, as a symbol of power and momentum, to help me overcome my sadness and difficulties
All my life, I can see that I have fallen from your grace
I realize that I've lost your favor or approval, and it makes me sad
Which was my calling
I felt that being with you was my true purpose or destiny
West wind is blowin' hard against me,
I'm facing a challenge or obstacle that seems to be pushing me back
Flat out road is all that I see
I can only see a straight and uneventful path ahead of me
Highway, won't you roll my blues away?
I'm asking the highway, as a symbol of adventure and freedom, to help me leave my troubles behind and find a new direction in life
All my life I've been alone
I've always felt isolated and disconnected from others
And never have I had a home
I've never felt a sense of belonging or attachment to a place or community
Until you came, but now love's gone bad.
I found love and happiness with you, but now our relationship has turned sour
It's kind of sad,
It's a regrettable and unpleasant situation
But I guess that I'm to blame cause I'm just untamed.
I acknowledge that my restless and uninhibited nature may have contributed to our problems
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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Dancin Chuck
Mike Good ( Blonde Boy Grunt & The Groans) wrote this song. Picked up by Jolie Holland when she saw him play it once. She does a wonderful job with it.
kylethompson4
love her! she's a super talent
Lisa Avena
Can someone tell me if Jolie wrote this song or if it's a cover? I love it!!!
Folkfaces
It's a Mike Good song
Fluffyfluffyhead
She melts me.
Noel Luna
Gosh her voice !
N. Presley
RIGHT?
have you heard The Be Good Tanyas? she does 3-part harmony with them ... but she's still the best solo voice IMO
fabio panza
And my soul Is going to the misterious
streets...
dribblingbacon
Marvelous.
DumpsterDonut
Finally someone posted this. Thanks