In 2001, at the age of 19, he launched the band The Format with his longtime best friend, Sam Means. The Format was his first musical endeavor to gain widespread attention. The Format lasted until 2008.
In 2008, Ruess started a new band with Jack Antonoff of Steel Train and Andrew Dost of Anathallo. The band was called fun.. With fun., Ruess won two Grammy Awards in 2013, including Best New Artist and Song of The Year for their hit We Are Young. fun. only released two albums before parting ways in 2014. On June 16, 2015, Ruess released his debut solo album Grand Romantic.
Ruess has also garnered success as a guest vocalist on songs by artists such as P!nk, Eminem, Emile Haynie, and Beach Boy Brian Wilson.
Thunder Road
Nate Ruess Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
Hey, that's me and I want you only
Don't turn me home again, I just can't face myself alone again
Don't run back inside, darling, you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
Oh, and that's alright with me
You can hide 'neath your covers and study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying and praying
For a savior to rise from these streets
Hey now, I ain't no hero, that's understood
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
With a chance to make it good somehow
Hey, what else can we do now?
Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair
Well, the night's busting open, these two lanes will take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Climb in back, heaven's waiting on down the tracks
Oh oh, come take my hand
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land
Oh oh oh oh, Thunder Road
Oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road
Lying out there like a killer in the sun
Hey, I know it's late, we can make it if we run
Oh oh oh oh, Thunder Road
Sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road
Well, I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk
And my car's out back if you're ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride ain't free
And I know you're lonely for words that I ain't spoken
But tonight we'll be free, all the promises'll be broken
There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets
They scream your name at night in the street
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
And in the lonely cool before dawn
You hear their engines rolling on
But when you get to the porch, they're gone on the wind
So Mary, climb in
It's a town full of losers, I'm pulling out of here to win
The song Thunder Road by Nate Ruess opens with a vivid image of a girl named Mary dancing on the porch to the mournful crooning of Roy Orbison. The singer addresses Mary, begging her not to send him away and to have faith that they can still make magic happen in their lives. He encourages her to leave her pain behind and trade in her wings for some wheels, to take a long drive with him on Thunder Road. He also acknowledges the ghosts of the boys Mary has hurt along the way, haunted by her memory and left to wander the beach road in their cars. Ultimately, the singer is leaving this town of losers behind and taking Mary with him, determined to win.
The lyrics of Thunder Road are both romantic and nostalgic, driven by a desire to escape the mundanity of small-town life and pursue a more meaningful existence. The song is essentially an ode to the power of love and the freedom that comes with taking a risk, even as the characters acknowledge the pain and disappointment that often accompanies those choices. The repeated refrain of Thunder Road echoes this sentiment, suggesting the excitement and adventure that lies ahead for those brave enough to take the journey.
Line by Line Meaning
The screen door slams, Mary's dress waves
Mary leaves the house in a hurry, with her dress waving as she steps out
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays
Mary looks beautiful as she moves across the porch and music plays in the background
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
The music playing is Roy Orbison, singing about loneliness
Hey, that's me and I want you only
The artist relates to the song's message and declares his love for Mary
Don't turn me home again, I just can't face myself alone again
The artist begs Mary not to send him away as he can't handle being alone again
Don't run back inside, darling, you know just what I'm here for
The singer reassures Mary about his intentions and asks her to stay
So you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore
The singer acknowledges that they are growing older and Mary may be hesitant about running away with him
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
The artist tells Mary to have faith, as there's something magical about the night
You ain't a beauty but, hey, you're alright
The artist reassures Mary that even though she's not conventionally beautiful, he still thinks she's great
Oh, and that's alright with me
The artist is content with Mary as she is
You can hide 'neath your covers and study your pain
The singer acknowledges that Mary has been hurt and is trying to cope with her pain
Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Mary has turned her pain into art and symbolism by making crosses and throwing roses
Waste your summer praying and praying
Mary has spent the summer praying for something better to come along
For a savior to rise from these streets
Mary is looking for someone to save her from her pain and difficult life
Hey now, I ain't no hero, that's understood
The singer clarifies that he is not a hero and can't save Mary from all her struggles
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
The artist can only offer Mary a new life and a fresh start
With a chance to make it good somehow
The artist believes that he and Mary can make a new life together
Hey, what else can we do now?
The singer believes that taking a chance on each other is the only option left for them
Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair
The singer encourages Mary to let loose and enjoy the ride
Well, the night's busting open, these two lanes will take us anywhere
The night is full of possibility and adventure, and the artist believes that they can go anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
This is the only opportunity they have to make a new life together
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Their chance to get away and start over is more important than anything else in their lives
Climb in back, heaven's waiting on down the tracks
The singer asks Mary to get into the car so they can start their new life together
Oh oh, come take my hand
The artist extends his hand to Mary, inviting her to run away with him
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land
The singer and Mary are leaving tonight to start their new life together
Oh oh oh oh, Thunder Road
The song is an ode to the car that they are escaping in, Thunder Road
Oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road
The song's chorus praises the car as the key to their freedom and new life
Lying out there like a killer in the sun
Thunder Road is waiting for them, unstoppable and bold- like a killer
Hey, I know it's late, we can make it if we run
The artist assures Mary that they can still get away, even though it's late
Sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road
The singer tells Mary to buckle up and hold tight as they embark on their journey
Well, I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk
The singer has a guitar that he uses to express himself
And my car's out back if you're ready to take that long walk
The artist's car is waiting to whisk them away to a new life
From your front porch to my front seat
The artist invites Mary to leave behind her old life and come with him
The door's open but the ride ain't free
While the opportunity is there for Mary to escape, they will face challenges along the way
And I know you're lonely for words that I ain't spoken
The singer recognizes that Mary is hurting, and feels regret that he has not always been there for her
But tonight we'll be free, all the promises'll be broken
As they start their new life, they will be free of their past and able to break free of their old promises
There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away
Mary has a haunted past, which includes boys she's sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets
The consequences of Mary's past mistakes are still haunting her and the places she frequents
They scream your name at night in the street
Mary's actions continue to come back to haunt her, with people blaming her for their misfortunes
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
Mary has lost everything she once held dear and is in a state of ruin and decay
And in the lonely cool before dawn
Mary is alone and isolated, with no one around to help or comfort her
You hear their engines rolling on
The past continues to haunt Mary, making her feel as though she can't escape it
But when you get to the porch, they're gone on the wind
Despite feeling as though she's being followed by her past, it disappears as soon as it arrives
So Mary, climb in
The artist begs Mary to join him on the journey towards a better life
It's a town full of losers, I'm pulling out of here to win
The artist recognizes that their town is full of people who have lost their way and he is determined to get out and to succeed
Contributed by Dominic W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@sarahsevak3467
amazing!!! tbh anything nate does is perfect 😘💕🥰
@RobynMatthewsLittle
Omg I just want to say thank you so much for posting this
@spktr117
Robyn Matthews Little no problem
@Ryn014x
Muchas gracias. La estuve buscando por años.
@JoaquinLopez-hc5hl
I want you back :((
@felisbertopocajr265
nate Amazing song... provide me your hurt
@eunsook7098
miss you