When his dad passed away in 2005 from cancer, Ned continued to tour with his father’s band to keep the musical spirit of Chris LeDoux alive. This drove him to pick up the guitar and try his hand at some of his dad’s songs. It started with “Rodeo Man,” and before long Ned had a whole catalogue of his father’s early hits ready to play. When the other band members heard Ned’s voice, he found himself front and center singing at the shows. Stepping out from behind the drums stirred something inside of Ned that he hadn’t felt before, “It’s a different kind of rush, getting up with a guitar and standing behind a microphone...shoot I’m getting butterflies thinking about it right now.”
The timing couldn’t be more right for Ned to pick up a guitar and belt out “Western Skies;” it has been over 10 years since Chris LeDoux passed and he believes people want to hear something new. Ned has boxes of song ideas his dad never finished and is digging through those for inspiration, “I will kind of stick with what dad used to do but bring my own stuff to the table.” In July of 2015, Ned traveled to Nashville with some of those unfinished songs and met up with Mac McAnally to put that inspiration to work. Mac produced Chris’ last two studio records and wrote his hit “Horsepower,” so the collaboration with Ned was a natural fit and lead to the first new Chris LeDoux co-write in nearly two decades.
His latest song “Brother Highway” is about all the time he has spent on the road touring with various bands since his days in high school. Ned says he doesn’t even need a road map anymore–that he and the highway are like brothers. He wants to write songs about what he knows, keep the themes simple and harken back to the sound of good ole country music but with an edge. Eventually Ned plans to release an album of new material and include a few of his dad’s songs re-recorded in his own style as a tribute.
For the last year, Ned has been steadily touring and opening for acts like Toby Keith, Chris Janson and Randy Houser. Yet now that he is in front of the mic, Ned has a new goal. “There’s an age group who doesn’t know who Chris LeDoux is and I just want to keep his name out there. I want to reintroduce him to people who’ve maybe heard of him but didn’t know what he did. Just carry on his legacy and carry on his music and at the same time show them what I can do.”
On tour, you’re guaranteed to hear “This Cowboy’s Hat”–the song most requested by his fans and a request Ned is honored to oblige. His personal favorite song to sing though is one called “You Can’t Tell Me We Ain’t Got It All.” It’s the first original song Ned co-wrote with his dad and seems to pick up right where Chris left off. And thankfully there is more to come as there is a new voice to carry on the LeDoux sound.
Open Road
Ned LeDoux Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
Always on the move
Sittin' on the front porch killing time
Ain't for ramblin' boots
I need to see what's over the hill
There's places I've never been
The greatest sense of freedom
Is on that road that never ends
So put me back on that highway
Out on the open road
I ain't chasin' no destination
All I wanna do is go
I hear a whisper on the wind
Calling from the great unknown
I've got a dream and the gasoline
And this open road
Every town I find has a story inside
They got something to say
It ain't about gettin' to the end of the trail
It's just life along the way
Secrets of the wonder and how
And knowing where I've been
Discoverin' what's around the next turn
The adventure starts again
So put me back on that highway
Out on the open road
I ain't chasin' no destination
All I wanna do is go
I hear a whisper on the wind
Calling from the great unknown
I've got the dream and the gasoline
And this open road
How ya gonna learn what you don't know now
How ya gonna find what you need
If ya don't go looking for the heart of the matter
You can't unlock the mystery, Yeah
So put me back on that highway
Out on the open road
I ain't chasin' no destination
All I wanna do is go
I hear a whisper on the wind
Calling from the great unknown
I've got the dream and the gasoline
And this open road
This open road
The lyrics of Ned LeDoux's song "Open Road" beautifully capture the essence of a restless spirit constantly seeking new experiences and adventures. The singer expresses their inability to stay still and their constant yearning to be on the move, as sitting idle is not in their nature. This sentiment is juxtaposed with the idea that the true sense of freedom lies in exploring the unknown and endless possibilities that lie beyond the horizon.
The imagery of being on the open road represents a metaphorical journey of self-discovery and personal growth. The singer finds solace and excitement in the idea of traveling without a specific destination in mind, simply reveling in the thrill of the journey itself. The call of the unknown, symbolized by a whisper on the wind, beckons the singer to embrace the dreamlike quality of the road and the adventures it holds.
Each town visited along the way holds its own unique story and lessons to be learned, emphasizing that the true essence of life is found in the experiences accumulated during the journey, rather than the final destination. The lyrics highlight the beauty of discovering the wonders of the world, cherishing the past while eagerly anticipating what lies around the next bend in the road.
The chorus of the song reinforces the idea of embracing the unknown, indulging in the freedom of the open road, and pursuing dreams fueled by the endless possibilities that lie ahead. The sentiment that one must actively seek out experiences, knowledge, and the heart of the matter in order to unravel life's mysteries resonates throughout the song, urging listeners to embrace the adventure of life with courage and curiosity. "Open Road" encapsulates the universal longing for exploration, growth, and the unending journey towards self-discovery.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Mark Sissel, Ned LeDoux
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@FDNYdave
Great song!!! Your dad lives within you. Looking forward to seeing you in Prescott 4th of July weekend. 👍
@petesakes1985
Thanks pard I know you're making your Daddy proud and the rest of us die hard fans ✝️🇱🇷💪🤠☕
@57RandB
A great song,You sound like your dad .Thank you for sharing your voice on youtube.(Mrs.Benschoter)
@tommywilliams5140
Proud of you young man. Thank you for keeping the flame going. Blessings to you and the family. Dedicated fan of your fathers and now you.
@audreymadden4872
Love it and I can't beleive how much you sound like your dad.
@BirdieSenpai
God bless you and your folks, Ned! Another instance classic with the same roaming spirit as Brother Highway!
@laribrown9791
Hearing your voice makes me smile just has much as your dad's did. Keep it up. Love it
@goneparonormal8046
This has to be my main road trip theme song. I saw you at the chris ledoux days yesterday. I was the girl close to the stage wearing the red 2024 trump cap. And i enjoyed every bit of it. I danced and sung along to most of the songs. I had seen you when you opened for sawyer brown last summer.
@mrstickgunner
I am a new fan. Great music. Keep up the great work.
@TheCokeMan3
Your dad would be so proud! Keep it up!