Dallas-based American singer-songwriter Max Stalling never expected to be a… Read Full Bio ↴Dallas-based American singer-songwriter Max Stalling never expected to be a full-time country and western musician. After earning his college degree from Texas A&M in food science, he worked for Rainbo Bread and Frito Lay. But following the critically lauded and audience-proven successes of his first three CDs, Comfort In The Curves in 1997, Wide Afternoon in 2000, and One Of The Ways in 2002, he traded his lab coat for cowboy boots and has been touring ever since - performing at more than 150 honky tonks and smoky dancehalls each year. In 2006 he issued the live disc Sell Out (recorded at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton), and his first new studio album in five years, Topaz City, was released in the summer of 2007.

I-35
Max Stalling Lyrics

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It was freezing cold in Dallas when I made my get away
I out ran a cold front when I gave my truck the reins
Barreling down I-35 with one thought on my mind
Forget the race find an open space, leave that city far behind
Well hello there Austin, you look to be just fine
Well pardon me San Marcos, but Im trying to make some time
Theres a storm in my rear-view and a city on my nerves
But theres a piece of mind in the straight-away and comfort in the curves

I didnt pull off in Von Ormy, like I normally do
I went on down to Devine town, I bought a six-pack or two
I glanced back across my shoulder, like a seventh season buck
All I saw was a wall of clouds, I hopped back in my truck
Guten-tag New Braunfels, how are you today
Hola Ol San Antonio, please stand out of my way
Theres a storm in my rear-view and a city on my nerves
But theres a piece of mind in the straight-away and comfort in the curves
Well I know that Mother-Nature will catch me in the end
But Ill put some miles behind me before I turn to face the wind
Well dont ya leave that barn door open, not even just a crack
If I see a hint of daylight, youll never get me back
Well hello old Batesville, do you remember me
And look out there La Pryor, but Im coming through cant you see
Theres a storm in my rear-view and a city on my nerves
But theres a piece of mind in the straight-away and comfort in the curves
I say Im barreling down I-35 with one thought on my mind

Forget the race find an open space, leave that city, that damned old city far behind
Leave that city way far behind

Overall Meaning

Max Stalling's song "I-35" tells the story of a man driving down Interstate 35, fleeing from a storm and leaving behind the city of Dallas. He is seeking freedom and peace of mind, and he finds it on the road, where he can forget about the race and enjoy the open spaces and curves. Along the way, he encounters different towns, such as Austin, San Marcos, Von Ormy, Devine town, New Braunfels, Ol' San Antonio, Batesville, and La Pryor, and he addresses each of them with a greeting or a warning to stand out of his way. However, the storm is always behind him, and he knows that Mother-Nature will eventually catch him, yet he keeps driving, putting miles behind him before turning to face the wind.

Line by Line Meaning

It was freezing cold in Dallas when I made my get away
The singer left Dallas on a cold day.

I out ran a cold front when I gave my truck the reins
The singer drove fast enough to escape a cold front and drive south.

Barreling down I-35 with one thought on my mind
The singer had one goal as they drove along I-35.

Forget the race find an open space, leave that city far behind
The artist was not interested in competing and wanted to escape the city.

Well hello there Austin, you look to be just fine
The artist arrived in Austin and noticed that it was nice.

Well pardon me San Marcos, but Im trying to make some time
The singer apologized to San Marcos while continuing to drive quickly.

Theres a storm in my rear-view and a city on my nerves
The singer was worried about the storm behind them and the city ahead.

But theres a piece of mind in the straight-away and comfort in the curves
The artist found peace in the straight sections of the road and comfort in the curves.

I didnt pull off in Von Ormy, like I normally do
The artist did not stop in Von Ormy as they usually did.

I went on down to Devine town, I bought a six-pack or two
The artist stopped in Devine town to buy some beer.

All I saw was a wall of clouds, I hopped back in my truck
The singer saw a large storm behind them and continued driving.

Guten-tag New Braunfels, how are you today
The artist greeted New Braunfels in German and asked how it was doing.

Hola Ol San Antonio, please stand out of my way
The singer greeted San Antonio in Spanish and asked to be allowed to pass through.

Well I know that Mother-Nature will catch me in the end
The singer acknowledged that they would eventually have to face the storm.

But Ill put some miles behind me before I turn to face the wind
The singer planned to keep driving until they had put some distance between themselves and the storm.

Well dont ya leave that barn door open, not even just a crack
The artist warned against leaving any opening for the storm to get in.

If I see a hint of daylight, youll never get me back
The artist vowed not to return to the storm if they saw an opportunity to escape.

Well hello old Batesville, do you remember me
The singer greeted Batesville and asked if it remembered them from a previous visit.

And look out there La Pryor, but Im coming through cant you see
The singer warned La Pryor that they were driving through and coming their way.

I say Im barreling down I-35 with one thought on my mind
The artist repeated the idea that they were driving with one goal in mind.

Forget the race find an open space, leave that city, that damned old city far behind
The artist emphasized their desire to escape the city and find space to be alone.

Contributed by Lucas J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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