Nowhere To Go
MelissaΒ Etheridge Lyrics
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Down past an old shack
On a road that goes to nowhere
Ain't nobody coming back
We can go there tonight
We can talk until dawn
Or maybe something else
I'll leave the radio on
There's no one to hear
You might as well scream
They never woke up
From the American dream
And they don't understand
What they don't see
And they look through you
And they look past me
Oh, you and I dancing slow
And we got nowhere to go
Past the Wal-Mart and the prison
Down by the old V.A.
Just my jeans and my t-shirt
And my blue Chevrolet
It's Saturday night
Feels like everything's wrong
I've got some strawberry wine
I want to get you alone
Down by the muddy water
Of the mighty Mo
In an old abandoned box car
Will I ever know
Dance with me forever
This moment is divine
I'm so close to heaven
This hell is not mine
This hell is not mine
Melissa Etheridge's "Nowhere To Go" is a poignant song with the perfectly written lyrics. Throughout the song, the singer is offering a place they know, down past an old shack on a road that goes to nowhere where they both can go and talk until dawn. A place where no one can hear you scream and no one's coming back. The singer further acknowledges the American dream that never woke up and they don't comprehend things they don't see, looking past individuals like the singer and the person they are addressing in the song.
However, the singer depicts their emotions by saying that they and the other person are dancing slow but have nowhere to go. But what they do have is a place where they can talk about anything, where no one can hear them, and the radio is playing in the background while they are passing through Walmart and the prison. The singer urges the person to take a chance and come with them to a place where they can be alone and not be bothered by anything or anyone.
The song creates a feeling of longing for a place where people can talk about things going on in their lives and feelings that they cannot share with others. It casts a dark shadow on the American dream that has left many people feeling they have nowhere to go. Etheridge's lyrics expose societal norms and expectations that leave people like the singer in the song feeling unheard and misunderstood.
Line by Line Meaning
I know a place
I have knowledge of a particular location
Down past an old shack
The location is situated beyond a dilapidated structure
On a road that goes to nowhere
This place can only be accessed via a path that leads to an unknown destination
Ain't nobody coming back
Once you leave this place, there is no returning
We can go there tonight
We can visit this location later in the evening
We can talk until dawn
We can engage in conversation until the early morning hours
Or maybe something else
Alternatively, we can engage in activities other than talking
I'll leave the radio on
I will ensure that the radio remains switched on
There's no one to hear
There are no individuals nearby to listen
You might as well scream
Any noise made may go unheard
They never woke up
Certain individuals failed to recognize certain realities
From the American dream
The notion of the United States as an idealized prosperous country
And they don't understand
These individuals lack comprehension
What they don't see
These individuals are only cognizant of things that are visible and apparent
And they look through you
These individuals pay little attention to you or anyone else
And they look past me
These individuals ignore my existence
Oh, you and I dancing slow
We are moving our bodies to the rhythm of the music at a leisurely tempo
And we got nowhere to go
We have no predetermined location to travel to
Past the Wal-Mart and the prison
Located beyond a large chain retail store and a penitentiary
Down by the old V.A.
In the vicinity of a Veteran's Affairs medical center that is now abandoned
Just my jeans and my t-shirt
I am clothed in casual denim pants and a plain shirt
And my blue Chevrolet
I have my blue Chevy vehicle as my mode of transport
It's Saturday night
It is presently the evening of the sixth day of the week
Feels like everything's wrong
I am experiencing a sense of disarray
I've got some strawberry wine
I have obtained some alcoholic beverage made from strawberries
I want to get you alone
I desire to have one-on-one company with you
Down by the muddy water
In close proximity to a murky body of water
Of the mighty Mo
This body of water is known as the Missouri River
In an old abandoned box car
Inside an unoccupied train car that has been left to degrade
Will I ever know
I question if I will ever discover something specific
Dance with me forever
Engage in synchronized movements with me for an indefinite period
This moment is divine
The present time feels special and extraordinary
I'm so close to heaven
I am experiencing a sense of euphoria
This hell is not mine
Any unpleasant situations or circumstances are not reflective of me
Lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS S. BOTTI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maureen Sevenuvseven
For me, discovering the music of Melissa Etheridge back in the 80's was like coming home; in her music, we had home and a place to call our own. No one else like her was around...and we held tight to her and her music so we would never get lost again. Thank you Melissa, you will never know how many lives you saved.
Tracy Knickerbocker
@E Stew better later, than neverπβ€οΈπ
E Stew
I didnβt discover til mid-90βsβΉοΈ
Coffee&Crime Galπ€
I remember her first hit was βBring me some waterβ off of her first album in 88, entitled Melissa Etheridge! I was instantly hooked and have been listening to her ever since. β€οΈβπ₯πΌπΈ
Traekas7!
Yes. I was back there,...back then, too. Iβve always felt like what you described here. Thanks for giving voice to my heart π!!!
PS. Melissa and I are about the same age. Same year, anyway. π³οΈβπ π»βοΈπ
Nuckin Futs
I could not have said any of this better. Beautifully put, well done.
LD SW
I'm a straight Black woman, and this song has always moved me in a special way.. I miss seeing videos like this on tv.. the 90s were soooo very special.. and so was Melissa back then- and today too, I'm sure.π
LD SW
@Alvin Whitley oh wow, I'd love to see it.. thanks for sharing
Alvin Whitley
She's doing an off-broadway show right now. Telling the stories behind the songs. This was one of them. β€οΈ
Ted Robertson
Melissa , has the real package . A Great voice & a true stage presence. This song has it all .