“Ramblin’ Man” is a song by Lemon Jelly, from their first studio album Lost… Read Full Bio ↴“Ramblin’ Man” is a song by Lemon Jelly, from their first studio album Lost Horizons, released in 2002. It features a conversation between an interviewer (the voice of Michael Deakin—father of Lemon Jelly’s Fred Deakin) and ‘John’, the Ramblin’ Man (the voice of actor John Standing), during which ‘John’ lists 67 places around the world he has (supposedly) visited.

Ramblin' Man
Lemon Jelly Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

John, you've been on the go ever since you were born
And I imagine few people in the world today have travelled as much as you have
Now why?

Well, I dunno
I suppose some of us are cave dwellers, some of us live in houses
Some of us like to be loose footed
I'm a ramblin' man

I'm a ramblin' man

Paris
Tibet
Sydney
Naxos

Rangu
Rotterdam
Runcton
The Cayman Islands

Malawi
Mauritius
Haight-ashbury
Patagonia

Kingston
Kentish Town
Codrington
Koh Samui

Felixstowe
Fingrinhoe
Valmorel
The North Pole

Brixton
Antwerp
Gujarat
Prawle

Uganda
Shennington
Sudbury
Sri Lanka

Ecuador
Edinburgh
Stockholm
Abu Dhabi

Lexington
Lindos
Tokyo
Harlem

Ipanema
Nicosia
Granada
San Jose

Damascus
Mandalay
San Frandisco
Atlantis

Adelaide
Angmering
Arumpo
Amsterdam

New York
Kabul
Rwanda
Kyoto

Manchester
Prague
Mendhurst
Toronto

Madrid
Melbourne
Dublin
Dakar

Boston
Oslo
Tooting
Belfast

Botswana
Tonga
Rayburn

I'm a ramblin' man

And you're going to keep on rambling?
Oh yes, he he, have to

Overall Meaning

The Lemon Jelly song "Ramblin' Man" is an ode to a traveller. The song starts with the singer, John, wondering why someone like the person he's singing about would choose to travel so much. His subject, the "ramblin' man," has travelled extensively all his life, having been to places like Paris, Tibet, Sydney, and the Cayman Islands. John then recites a long list of places the ramblin' man has visited, each time repeating the phrase "I'm a ramblin' man." The implication is that this person has no fixed home, but rather wanders aimlessly from place to place.

The song can be interpreted as an anthem for those who love to travel and explore the world. The ramblin' man embodies the free-spiritedness and wanderlust that many people feel but may not have the courage or means to pursue. His nomadic lifestyle is a rejection of traditional societal values that place importance on settling down, building homes, and maintaining stability.

Overall, "Ramblin' Man" is a song that celebrates the freedom of movement and the joys of discovering new places and cultures. It encourages listeners to embrace a more spontaneous and adventurous approach to life.

Line by Line Meaning

John, you've been on the go ever since you were born
I acknowledge and admire your extensive travels, which appear to have begun at a very early age.

And I imagine few people in the world today have travelled as much as you have
In my estimation, your travel experiences are unparalleled by most individuals alive today.

Now why?
What inspired you to undertake such a well-traveled lifestyle?

Well, I dunno
Honestly, I'm not entirely sure.

I suppose some of us are cave dwellers, some of us live in houses
Individuals have various preferences and lifestyles, such as living in caves or traditional homes.

Some of us like to be loose footed
Some people prefer to be free and unpredictable in their movements.

I'm a ramblin' man
Personally, I enjoy wandering and traveling extensively.

Paris Tibet Sydney Naxos Rangu Rotterdam Runcton The Cayman Islands Malawi Mauritius Haight-ashbury Patagonia Kingston Kentish Town Codrington Koh Samui Felixstowe Fingrinhoe Valmorel The North Pole Brixton Antwerp Gujarat Prawle Uganda Shennington Sudbury Sri Lanka Ecuador Edinburgh Stockholm Abu Dhabi Lexington Lindos Tokyo Harlem Ipanema Nicosia Granada San Jose Damascus Mandalay San Frandisco Atlantis Adelaide Angmering Arumpo Amsterdam New York Kabul Rwanda Kyoto Manchester Prague Mendhurst Toronto Madrid Melbourne Dublin Dakar Boston Oslo Tooting Belfast Botswana Tonga Rayburn
These are the many places that I've traveled to and enjoyed exploring.

And you're going to keep on rambling?
Do you plan to continue your travel lifestyle?

Oh yes, he he, have to
Certainly, I intend to keep traveling because it's what I love to do and it's become a part of who I am.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nick Franglen, Fred Deakin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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