No Vacancy
Merle Travis Lyrics
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Lookin' for a place to call my own
Not a fancy mansion or a bungalow for me
Ev'rywhere I go I seem to find
Hangin' on the door that same old sign
And my heart beats slower when I read on the door, "No Vacancy"
No Vacancy, No Vacancy
All along the line it's the same old sign waitin' for me
And my heart beats slower when I read on the door
"No Vacancy"
Not so long ago when the bullets screamed
Many was the happy dream I dreamed
Of a little nest where I could rest when the world was free
Now the mighty war over there is won
Troubles and trials have just begun
As I face that terrible enemy sign, "No Vacancy"
Brother, if you live a life of ease
Better take a moment on your knees
Thank the Lord above for all His love, then think of me
Livin' in a world of greed and hate
Hoping ev'ry day the hand of fate
Will remove that sign that's a-hangin' on the door, "No Vacancy"
The lyrics of Merle Travis's "No Vacancy" describes the struggles of finding a home or a place to rest in life. The singer has been wandering all along the road of life, looking for a place to call his own, but everywhere he goes, he's greeted by the same sign that reads "No Vacancy". He iterates that all he is looking for is a simple place to rest, but he can't seem to find it. The constant disappointment of being turned away causes his heart to beat slower every time he reads the same sign. The singer remembers a more peaceful time when he dreamed of a little nest to rest when the world was free, but "the mighty war over there is won", and troubles and trials have just begun. As he faces the sign, it represents much more than just full capacity; it shows his inability to find a place of solace in a world full of chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
All along the road of life I roam
I am constantly moving from place to place in my life
Lookin' for a place to call my own
I am searching for a place that I can feel comfortable and secure in
Not a fancy mansion or a bungalow for me
I am not seeking luxury, just a simple place to live
Ev'rywhere I go I seem to find
No matter where I travel, my experience is the same
Hangin' on the door that same old sign
I always see the same sign when I search for a place to stay
And my heart beats slower when I read on the door, "No Vacancy"
I feel discouraged and disheartened when I see that the place is not available
No Vacancy, No Vacancy
I encounter this problem repeatedly
All along the line it's the same old sign waitin' for me
This issue persists no matter where I go
And my heart beats slower when I read on the door
I feel a sense of despair when I see the sign
"No Vacancy"
The sign indicates that there are no available rooms
Not so long ago when the bullets screamed
I remember a time when there was chaos and violence
Many was the happy dream I dreamed
I had optimistic hopes and aspirations
Of a little nest where I could rest when the world was free
I wanted a peaceful and comfortable place to relax
Now the mighty war over there is won
Although the war is finished, it has not brought me peace
Troubles and trials have just begun
I am still facing difficult challenges
As I face that terrible enemy sign, "No Vacancy"
The sign is a constant obstacle in my quest for a home
Brother, if you live a life of ease
If you lead an easy life
Better take a moment on your knees
You should take a moment to express gratitude
Thank the Lord above for all His love, then think of me
After expressing gratitude, think of those less fortunate
Livin' in a world of greed and hate
The world is filled with selfishness and animosity
Hoping ev'ry day the hand of fate
I hope that things will get better eventually
Will remove that sign that's a-hangin' on the door, "No Vacancy"
I hope the day comes when I will no longer have to see the sign
Writer(s): M. Travis, C. Stone
Contributed by Audrey O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BrickPa
Oh brother! Just listen to this little group! A quintet that sounds better than many larger outfits! Please bring back this quality of performers and music!
BrickPa
WOW What a great video! You deserve millions of views and thumbs up to boot! Thanks!
soeyesays
I dig this tune so much. Interesting story behind the song ( Wikipedia ). I believe the lap steel player is James Clell Summey aka Cousin Jody.
dansdotcom
It's not Summey it is Eddie Kirk, Merle did lot of Soundies with Eddie
NotEvenRelevant
I must be one of the 900 views here as i come back to it a lot.Thank you so much for this treasure..:)
NickDanger3215
No that's not Eddie Kirk on steel guitar. I can't remember the guy's name though. but that's Tex Atchison on fiddle.
Sandmon Jones
Im here and it's so cool to see the master picker
Noneya Bidness
Who is on accordion?