The song lyrics contain an interesting geographical misperception, when he sings "heading west from the Cumberland Gap to Johnson City, Tennessee." That would actually be an eastward drive. As Secor later explained “I just wanted the word ‘west’ in there. ‘West’ has got more power than ‘east.’ "
"Wagon Wheel" received a notable cover by Darius Rucker in 2013. Based on Spotify streams, it has now exceeded the original in popularity.
Wagon Wheel
Old Crow Medicine Show 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 Raleigh
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 southbound train
Hey mama rock me
Runnin' from the cold up in New England
I was born to be a fiddler in an old-time string band
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
Walkin' due south out of Roanoke
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
In Old Crow Medicine Show's "Wagon Wheel," the singer describes his journey from the Northeast down to North Carolina, hoping to see his loved one. In the first verse, the singer is hitchhiking and hoping to find a ride as he stares out at the road, anxious to reach his destination. He eventually makes it to North Carolina and is hoping to see his baby that night.
In the second verse, the singer reveals his past as he tells us that he was born to be a fiddler in an old-time string band. He left his old life behind after losing his money playing poker, and he has no intention of going back. He’s now playing the banjo while his “baby” plays the guitar. In the third verse, the singer is in Roanoke, Virginia, and is hitchhiking once again. He gets a ride from a trucker who gives him a toke and is headed to Tennessee. The singer wants to get there before the sun comes up, hearing his baby calling his name. He then ends by saying that if he dies in Raleigh, at least he will die free.
Overall, "Wagon Wheel" is a song about the journey of finding one's true love and the challenges that come with it. It's about following your dreams and taking risks in life to reach where you want to be. The song has a carefree and upbeat melody that matches well with the spirit of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Headed down south to the land of the pines
Starting a journey towards North Carolina
And I'm thumbin' my way into North Caroline
Hitchhiking to reach North Carolina
Starin' up the road
Looking ahead on the road
Pray to God I see headlights
Hopeful to see a car with its headlights on
I made it down the coast in seventeen hours
Reached the coast after a long journey of seventeen hours
Pickin' me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
Collecting flowers as a memento of the journey
And I'm a hopin' for Raleigh
Looking forward to reaching Raleigh
I can see my baby tonight
Excited to meet his loved one
So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Asking his mother to sing for him in a certain style
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Let mother sing in any style she wants
Hey mama rock me
Asking his mother to sing for him
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Asking his mother to sing in a certain style
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Asking his mother to sing in a certain style
Hey mama rock me
Asking his mother to sing for him
Runnin' from the cold up in New England
Leaving New England to avoid the cold weather
I was born to be a fiddler in an old-time string band
Narrating his musical talents and interests
My baby plays the guitar
Telling about his lover's musical talents
I pick a banjo now
Telling about his current musical instrument of interest
Oh, the North country winters keep a gettin' me now
Mentioning the difficulty in surviving the winters in the North
Lost my money playin' poker so I had to up and leave
Narrating an incident where he lost his money and had to leave
But I ain't a turnin' back
Determined to move forward
To livin' that old life no more
Not wanting to live the past life anymore
Walkin' due south out of Roanoke
Walking towards the South from Roanoke
I caught a trucker out of Philly
Hitchhiking and getting a ride from a truck driver in Philadelphia
Had a nice long toke
Smoking weed with the truck driver
But he's a headed west from the Cumberland Gap
Truck driver is going towards the West from the Cumberland Gap
To Johnson City, Tennessee
Truck driver's destination is Johnson City
And I gotta get a move on before the sun
Need to move ahead before the sun is up
I hear my baby callin' my name
Longing to meet his lover calling out his name
And I know that she's the only one
Confident that his lover is the only one for him
And if I die in Raleigh
Not worrying about death in Raleigh
At least I will die free
At peace with himself knowing he lived life his way
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan, Ketch Secor
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@philipdennis-rh7uj
That voice is called the high lonesome and you can only sing it if you've lived it
@elijahguffey2594
Had a friend in the Marine Corps that loved this song and played it any chance he got. He ended up taking his life after our desperate to change his mind. Anyways a year goes by and a bunch of Marines and I are visiting some family in Maryland. Someone pulled out a guitar and in our drunken emotional states we all yelled this song into the wind as loud as we could. Probably 15-20 people yelling for our buddy, all drunk and crying. I come here every day for him and I can always smell the east coast ocean and pines. Rest in Peace 1994-2015
@jimbrickwall8307
RIP warrioir.
@jimmydiresta
Wow that’s touching 👊🏼
@douglasstudeman5531
Thank You for your service. I spent four years in the U.S. ARMY myself.
@steph8703
Damn man I'm sorry🥺 I lost my 2 best friends, I understand that pain 😔 😢 sending u love, these comments r getting me emotional af lol
@atox4957
Man, that’s young. Sorry for your friend, friend.
@GrassPossum
When I found out I'm dying, this became my greatest comfort. Now I've been given a little bit more time, it remains my favorite.
@MORiverFishing
Have you ever heard Hayde Bluegrass Orchestra's version of All My Tears? It's beautiful and I bet it would give you some comfort as well. Check it out.
https://youtu.be/iMbbTQrC41o?si=R0IV2pKddRh2DYTr
@chrystalgail
I will pray for you