On The Road
Lee Roy Parnell Lyrics
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Never had a life
Her mother said she'd married young.
And her husband's a fool
Never listened to
All the things she's never done.
So she packs up that ol' Ford Fairlane.
She's had about all she can bear.
She's gonna find it all somewhere.
On the road
Where the night is black.
On the road
Where you don't look back.
There's a white line in the distance.
Where it's goin' nobody knows.
If it's anywhere, you'll find it
On the road.
There's a teenage kid
No matter what he did
Nobody ever understands.
And he don't measure up
And he's had enough
Can't be his Daddy's little man.
So he pulls out that hot rod Chevy.
Puts in his favorite cassette.
He ain't goin' to no college.
The world is waitin' up ahead.
On the road
Where the night is black.
On the road
Where you don't look back.
There's a white line in the distance.
Where it's goin' nobody knows.
If it's anywhere, you'll find it
On the road.
Eddie and Jill got time to kill
The kids, they never come around.
And a gold-plated watch was all he got
When the company shut his life down.
So he takes down that old Airstream.
They don't know where they're bound.
Sixty five years and still searching
For somethin' that they never found.
On the road
Where the night is black.
On the road
Where you don't look back.
There's a white line in the distance.
Where it's goin' nobody knows.
If it's anywhere, you'll find it.
On the road.
On the road.
On the road.
The song "On The Road" by Lee Roy Parnell narrates the stories of three individuals who are on the road seeking a better life. The first verse introduces a young woman who has never had the chance to enjoy her life due to her early marriage. Her partner is also unsupportive, failing to acknowledge her goals and aspirations. She decides to leave everything behind and take her Ford Fairlane on the road, hopeful to discover a better life for herself. The second verse talks about a teenage boy who feels misunderstood and unvalued by his family. He takes his Chevrolet and sets off into the night, determined to find his dreams and create a better future for himself.
The last verse highlights an older couple, Eddie and Jill, who have spent a large part of their life working for a company that has now terminated their contract. Feeling dejected, they decide to leave everything behind and embark on a journey of discovery. The song emphasizes the idea that the road represents a blank slate where anyone can start anew and fulfill their dreams. The recurrent lines in the chorus, "On the road, where the night is black. On the road, where you don't look back" emphasize the idea of moving forward and never looking back.
Overall, "On The Road" can be interpreted as a metaphor for life, representing the idea that we are all in search of something, and sometimes that search leads us down unknown paths. The song emphasizes the importance of following one's dreams and taking risks to find happiness.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a sad, young wife
There's a young wife who feels hopeless and unhappy
Never had a life
She feels like she hasn't lived the life she wanted
Her mother said she'd married young.
She feels like she got married too young because of her mother's influence
And her husband's a fool
Her husband is not a good partner for her
Never listened to
He never pays attention to her
All the things she's never done.
There are many things she hasn't experienced and she feels trapped
So she packs up that ol' Ford Fairlane.
She leaves home in an old car
She's had about all she can bear.
She can't take it anymore and needs to make a change
A suitcase, a hope, and a hard rain.
She's leaving town with only a suitcase, hoping for a new life, and facing difficulties
She's gonna find it all somewhere.
She's going to look for everything she's missing in life somewhere else
There's a teenage kid
There's a kid in his teens
No matter what he did
He can't seem to do anything right
Nobody ever understands.
No one gets him
And he don't measure up
He doesn't feel like he is good enough
And he's had enough
He's reached his limit
Can't be his Daddy's little man.
He can't be the kind of man his father wants him to be
So he pulls out that hot rod Chevy.
He takes out his fast car
Puts in his favorite cassette.
He puts a tape of his favorite music in the car stereo
He ain't goin' to no college.
He's not interested in pursuing higher education
The world is waitin' up ahead.
He feels like there is something better out there for him
Eddie and Jill got time to kill
Eddie and Jill have nothing to do, they're bored
The kids, they never come around.
Their children don't visit them
And a gold-plated watch was all he got
Eddie got a watch as a retirement gift after the company shut down
When the company shut his life down.
His life was defined by the company he worked for and now he's left with nothing
So he takes down that old Airstream.
He takes down his old trailer
They don't know where they're bound.
They're not sure where they're going
Sixty-five years and still searching
Eddie and Jill are searching for something even though they're getting old
For somethin' that they never found.
They are still searching for something they haven't found yet
On the road
They're traveling
Where the night is black.
It's dark outside
Where you don't look back.
They're not dwelling on their past
There's a white line in the distance.
They see a white line on the road, symbolizing a path to follow
Where it's goin' nobody knows.
They don't know where the road will lead them
If it's anywhere, you'll find it.
They believe they will find what they're looking for on this journey
On the road.
They're still traveling
On the road.
They're still traveling
On the road.
They're still traveling
Writer(s): Bob Mcdill Copyright: Polygram Int. Publishing Inc., Ranger Bob Music
Contributed by David L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bud3094
Now folks..This is the "Real country" Music.. Slick slide guitar..Smooth singing.. Not like most of the country music you hear today..Thanks Lee Roy!
@juniperberry4295
Bang on! I'm from the UK. Some of the churned out 'country crap' make me want to throw up. This is wonderful.
@sopharobledo8816
I agree
@lauratanner8475
Remember Family tree? I loved that one! Lee Roy rocked!!
@drfeelgoods30
Absolutely 💯 they don't make them country artists like Lee roy &Vince &all these great talent arts like Mary Chapin carpenter anymore I find myself listening to this classic stuff all the time I'm still listening to it I never get tired of it so much talent in it today 's music couldn't compare to this classic stuff.
@BrushCountryAg06
AMEN ❤
@user-cf8zm8gq9k
This country artist knows country music.
@bbrcummins1984
Back when country was country, now we have skinny jeans and boy buns
@calvinlyonsmusic541
Some of the best country music ever.this guy was very under-rated and really never got the spot light like some that shouldn't even be in the music business.
I've been a fan of Lee Roy's for many years.
@randallebritt1822
I love listening to Lee Roy Parnell. As a matter of fact, I named my black kitten, Leeroy♥️