Nathan … Read Full Bio ↴Nathan Carter (born 28 May 1990) is an Irish country singer.
Nathan was born in Liverpool to parents from Northern Ireland. He began playing the accordion at age 4 and at age 10, he won the title for All Ireland Title for Traditional Singing. At 18 he moved from Liverpool to live in Ireland.
His debut album, Starting Out, was released in 2007 and from then on he has been known for reviving the genre of Country and Irish in both the United Kingdom and Ireland. Nathan released his latest album Where I Wanna Be in August 2013. His cover of the single "Wagon Wheel" has topped the main Irish Singles Chart.
Wagon Wheel
Nathan Carter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm thumbin' my way into North Caroline
Starin' up the road
Pray to God I see headlights
I made it down the coast in seventeen hours
Pickin' me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
And I'm a hopin' for RaleighI can see my baby tonight
So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Hey mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Hey mama rock me
Runnin' from the cold up in New England
I was born to be a fiddler in an old-time stringband
My baby plays the guitar
I pick a banjo now
Oh, the North country winters keep a gettin' me now
Lost my money playin' poker so I had to up and leave
But I ain't a turnin' back
To livin' that old life no more
So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Hey mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Hey mama rock me
I caught a trucker out of Philly
Had a nice long toke
But he's a headed west from the Cumberland Gap
To Johnson City, Tennessee
And I gotta get a move on before the sun
I hear my baby callin' my name
And I know that she's the only one
And if I die in Raleigh
At least I will die free
So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Hey mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Hey mama rock me
The first verse of "Wagon Wheel" sets the scene for the song, as the singer describes his journey from the north to the south, on a quest to reach his loved one in Raleigh, North Carolina. He's hitchhiking his way through the land of the pines, and he's praying for a lift. The line "Rock me mama like a wagon wheel" serves as a chorus, evoking the rhythm of an old, creaky wagon rolling down the road. The song has a rustic, folksy feel, with mentions of dogwood flowers, old-time stringbands, and banjo picking. But there's also a sense of urgency, as the singer is on a mission to reunite with his beloved.
The second verse takes us deeper into the singer's background, as he reveals that he's a fiddler who was born in New England but feels more at home in the south. He's lost his money playing poker, and he's ready to turn his back on his old life and start anew. The final verse finds him walking along the highway, hoping to catch a ride to Tennessee, where his baby is waiting for him. He's willing to risk everything for love, even if it means he might die on the road.
Overall, "Wagon Wheel" is a song about the pull of love and the allure of adventure, with a touch of homesickness and nostalgia for the old-fashioned ways of the south. It's a catchy tune with a timeless quality that speaks to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Line by Line Meaning
Headed down south to the land of the pines
I am traveling towards the south to the forested areas where pine trees grow
And I'm thumbin' my way into North Caroline
I am hitchhiking my way into North Caroline
Starin' up the road
I am looking ahead towards the road
Pray to God I see headlights
I hope to see headlights of vehicles approaching on the road
I made it down the coast in seventeen hours
I traveled along the coastline for seventeen hours
Pickin' me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
I picked a bunch of dogwood flowers
And I'm a hopin' for Raleigh
I am hoping to reach Raleigh
I can see my baby tonight
I am looking forward to meeting my loved one tonight
So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Mama should provide a comforting and supportive presence like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Mama can comfort me in any way that she sees fit
Hey mama rock me
Entreats mama to comfort and support him
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Mama can provide comfort, peace, and calmness like the wind or tumultuous like the rains as per the situation
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Mama can provide the rhythmic and comforting sensation that one gets while traveling on a train towards the southern regions
Hey mama rock me
Entreats mama to comfort and support him
Runnin' from the cold up in New England
I am fleeing from the colder regions of New England
I was born to be a fiddler in an old-time stringband
I was born to be a fiddler in a musical group that plays old-time music with stringed instruments
My baby plays the guitar
My loved one plays the guitar
I pick a banjo now
I play a banjo as well now
Oh, the North country winters keep a gettin' me now
I am continually troubled by the harsh winters of the north
Lost my money playin' poker, so I had to up and leave
I lost all my money while gambling, and so I had to leave
But I ain't a turnin' back
I am not going back to my old ways
To livin' that old life no more
I am leaving my old life behind
Walkin' to the south out of Roanoke
I am walking south out of Roanoke
I caught a trucker out of Philly
I caught a ride with a truck driver from Philadelphia
Had a nice long toke
I smoked some marijuana with him
But he's a headed west from the Cumberland Gap
The truck driver is heading west from the Cumberland Gap
To Johnson City, Tennessee
He is traveling to Johnson City in Tennessee
And I gotta get a move on before the sun
I have to hurry before sunrise
I hear my baby callin' my name
I can imagine my loved one calling my name
And I know that she's the only one
I know that she is the only person for me
And if I die in Raleigh
If I happen to die in Raleigh
At least I will die free
I will die free from my old life and troubles
So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Mama should provide me with comfort and support like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Mama can provide comfort to me in any way she sees fit
Hey mama rock me
I am requesting mama to comfort and support me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Mama can comfort me with peace and calmness like the wind or passion and turbulence like the rains- as per the scenario
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Mama can provide me with a comforting and rhythmic sensation while traveling in a south-bound train
Hey mama rock me
I am again asking mama to comfort and support me
Contributed by Mackenzie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@carolynmcalister2083
I'm an Australian, sitting in Melbourne, watching an Irishman singing a song written by 2 Americans two years before i was born- what a time to be alive!!
(Love this cover, fantastic!)
@shaneD7378
Nathan Carter is amazing he needs more recognition from radio and tv much better than some of the rubbish in the charts today
@lefthandontop426
Good singer alright but seems to have made a good living out of copying other musicians songs
@ronancoffey6729
@@lefthandontop426 his not only one doing it if ur giving hate or jealousy like some people
@RosieT20
@@lefthandontop426 Like a huge number of other singers then. Have you heard The Journey? Wrote it himself and it's beautiful.
@ananonymoususer4698
You realise this is a cover of an old crow medicine show song right? Yeah I know this started off as an unfinished Bob dylan song but ketch secor of ocms got the bootleg and wrote verses. The most famous version in my country is Darius Rucker's, which is a mix of Old Crow's original and carter's version.
@alanschaller5869
First time I've heard of Nathan Carter. When a performer can get people up on their feet and sing & swing along with the beat is real talent and shows he's hit a chord with the crowd, they love him... He has talent and will search for more of his music...
@Soapboxstomper
Adorable AND Talented♥️💜♥️💜♥️💜♥️💜♥️💜♥️💜
@Oidile
Wow!!! Nathan, you make the audience rock and swing! great performance
@daphnethurlow5388
What a great voice..love the music