Down The Road
Mac McAnally Lyrics


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When I was a boy

Four houses down from me
Was a family with an only child
She was the only girl
In this whole world that can make me smile

Down the road
I made up reasons to go
Down the road

Somewhere inside of me
There was something she took a liking to
I asked her to marry me
She said she really wanted to

Down the road
To see what life's gonna hold
Down the road

Her momma wants to know
If I'm washed in the blood or just in the water
Her daddy wants to know
If I make enough to take his daughter

Down the road
Before he could let her go
Down the road

Now down the street from here
There's an engineer with an only son
And our baby girl says
She believes that he is the only one

Down the road

Her momma wants to know
Is he washed in the blood or just in the water
And I want to know
That he makes enough to take my daughter

Down the road
When it comes time to go
Down the road

Down the road
You know I want to help her go
Down the road





Down, down, down that road
Down, down, down that road

Overall Meaning

The song "Down The Road" by Mac McAnally is a beautiful love story that tells the tale of a young boy who falls head over heels in love with a girl who lives four houses down from him. The girl is the only child in her family and is the only one in the world who can make the boy genuinely smile. He makes up excuses to go down the road just to see her and be close to her. The boy falls deeply in love with her, and he finally asks her to marry him. The girl says she also wants to marry him, and they decide to see what life will hold for them down the road.


As the song progresses, the boy's future father-in-law has quite a few stipulations before he agrees to let his daughter marry him. Her mom wants to know if the boy is washed in the blood or just in the water, while her dad wants to know if he makes enough to provide for his daughter. The boy understands their concerns and prepares himself to meet their demands. In the end, the couple grows old together and has a baby girl. The roles have reversed, and now the father is the one concerned with his daughter's love life. The father wants to make sure that his daughter's future husband is washed in the blood and makes enough money to provide for his family. As the song concludes, the boy promises to help his future son-in-law down the road in the same way that his own father-in-law helped him.


Overall, the song is a touching and heartfelt story about love and marriage, and the importance of family bonds. It is a lovely reminder that all love stories have their own unique paths and that sometimes it is necessary to go down the road to find true happiness.


Line by Line Meaning

When I was a boy
In my childhood, many years ago


Four houses down from me
Just four buildings away from my home


Was a family with an only child
There resided a family with only one kid


She was the only girl
The sole female child of that family


In this whole world that can make me smile
Who had the power to bring a smile on my face


Down the road
Later in life


I made up reasons to go
I sought excuses to visit her


Somewhere inside of me
Deep within my being


There was something she took a liking to
She found something appealing in my personality


I asked her to marry me
I proposed her for marriage


She said she really wanted to
She expressed her desire to marry me


Her momma wants to know
Her mother wishes to ascertain


If I'm washed in the blood or just in the water
If my faith and beliefs are authentic and strong


Her daddy wants to know
Her father wishes to clarify


If I make enough to take his daughter
If I am financially stable enough to support his daughter


Before he could let her go
Before he could allow her to get married


Now down the street from here
Currently, near my place of dwelling


There's an engineer with an only son
A family with one male offspring, who happens to be an engineer


And our baby girl says
Our own daughter claims


She believes that he is the only one
She believes that he is 'the one' for her


You know I want to help her go
I desire to guide and support her


Down, down, down that road
Towards the future and the unknown




Lyrics © Beginner Music
Written by: MAC MCANALLY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

nestlinggirl

I never tire of this song. Mac Anally is so unrecognized

Aaron Coffman

I miss songs like this. It is a simple, beautiful song with great music

5spooner

Just a note for those who don't like Kenny's version. Remember, it is a duet with Mac McAnally.

Luiz Francisco Natel

Muito inspirada, letra e melodia. Pena que as rádios no Brasil não tocam esse estilo de música.  

Paul Hebert

I love everything about this song. Wonderful vocals, great music, and it really shows what an incredible songwriter Mac really is.

'80sKid

Nice. This was my first time hearing the original version of this song. I'm a HUGE Restless Heart fan and they absolutely do this song justice. Don't really care for Kenny Chesney's version, though.

tee woods

it's hard to believe this album is 30 years old. it still sounds as great as it did the first time.

Jeralee Wood

REALLY??? TIMELESS!!!

Eileen Mullay

To me this is the REAL version. This is the one I heard first, and in my opinion the best. Mac is a great singer and good looking too ;)

Cody

I disagree, Chesney did an outstanding job on his cover. And besides, It introduced the the talent of McAnally to the masses.

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