When The Bloom Is On The Sage
Mercer Johnny Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the bloom is on the sage
Then I long to be in Texas
Back a-ridin' on the range
Just to smell the bacon fryin'
And a-sizzlin' in the pan
Hear the breakfast horn in the early morn'
Just a-ridin', rockin', ropin'
Poundin' leather all day long
Swayin', sweatin', swearin'
Listenin' to a cowhand song
How it beckons and I reckon
I would work for any wage
To be free again, just to be again
Where the bloom is on the sage
Ridin', rockin', ropin'
Poundin' leather all day long
Just a-swayin', sweatin', swearin'
Listenin' to a cowhand song
How it beckons and I reckon
I'd work for any wage
To be free again, just to be again
Where the bloom is on the sage
The song talks about a nostalgic longing for Texas during the time of the yearly roundup where the sagebrush blooms. The singer describes missing the simple pleasures of cowboy life, such as the smell of bacon frying, hearing the breakfast horn in the morning, drinking coffee from a can, and working all day long. The chorus repeats the desire to be free again and riding on the range where the bloom is on the sage.
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a simpler time, where hard work and the natural world were intertwined. The romanticism of the song can be seen in the repeated refrain of wanting to be free and the imagery of the sagebrush in bloom. The song taps into a deeper sense of nostalgia for a simpler way of life and a connection to nature.
Line by Line Meaning
When it's roundup time in Texas
As the time for cattle gathering arrives in Texas
And the bloom is on the sage
When the growth is abundant on the sagebrush which indicates fertile ground
Then I long to be in Texas
I yearn to return to Texas
Back a-ridin' on the range
Riding through open land
Just to smell the bacon fryin'
Experiencing the aroma of cooking bacon
And a-sizzlin' in the pan
Hearing the sizzling sound of it cooking in a pan
Hear the breakfast horn in the early morn'
Hearing the sound of the horn indicating that breakfast is served
Drinkin' coffee from a can
Drinking coffee from a can/container
Just a-ridin', rockin', ropin'
Just riding, rocking back and forth, and roping cattle
Poundin' leather all day long
Riding a horse all day long
Swayin', sweatin', swearin'
Swaying with the horse, sweating from the heat, and using coarse language
Listenin' to a cowhand song
Hearing a tune typically sang by cowboys
How it beckons and I reckon
How it summons me and I think
I would work for any wage
I am willing to work for any level of compensation
To be free again, just to be again
To experience freedom once more, to be in that state again
Where the bloom is on the sage
In a location where the sagebrush growth is thriving
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Fred Howard, Nathaniel H Vincent
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind