Members of The Quiet World:
Lea Heather – composer
John Heather – acoustic guitar, vocal, composer
Neil Heather – composer
Sean O'Malley – drums
Eddy Hines – flute, sax
Steve Hackett – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, harmonica
Dick Driver – string bass, electric bass
Phil Henderson – arranger, piano, trumpet, organ, recorder, vocals
John Schroeder – producer
except them on the cover of the album are also listed
John Hackett – acoustic guitar
Gill Cilbert - vocals
Discography:
The Road (1970 - Dawn Records)
Traveller
Quiet World Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You carry such a heavy load
Of dreams
And it seems
No one tries to understand
And the friend who's by your side
Is just a friend and not a guide
Until he can comprehend
Traveller all alone
Can you make it on your own
You've tried
And you've tried
To make them understand
And they feel their world's secure
And feel they can't endure
Someone they think's gonna start re-arranging
And though your shoes are thick with dust
The feeling they can't trust
Something they don't understand
Keeps you moving
Traveller on the road
You carry such a heavy load
Of dreams
And it seems
No one tries to understand
The traveller
The traveller
The lyrics of "Traveller" by Quiet World speaks of the struggles of someone who is on a journey – be it physical, emotional, spiritual – and the difficulty in finding someone who can truly comprehend their journey. The song suggests that while many may accompany the traveller, not everyone can be a guide. The lyrics illustrate a sense of loneliness, of being misunderstood, and of carrying a heavy burden.
The first two lines of the song, "Traveller on the road, you carry such a heavy load of dreams" represents the traveller carrying the weight of their goals, dreams and aspirations, a weight that can often feel unbearable. Despite the support of friends, the traveller still feels alone on their journey. The lyrics signify that until they find someone who can truly comprehend their path and guide them, their journey will continue.
The song's chorus repeats the first verse, emphasizing the weight of the burden that the traveller carries. It is interesting to note that the lyrics use the word "seems" rather than "is," suggesting that perhaps there are those who do understand but have not made it apparent to the traveller. The final line of the song, "The traveller, The traveller," serves as a reminder of the person and their emotions and experiences.
Overall, "Traveller" is a poignant commentary on the human experience – the desire to be understood, the struggle to find a kindred spirit, and the weight of carrying one's aspirations.
Line by Line Meaning
Traveller on the road
You, the traveller, are moving through life's journey
You carry such a heavy load
You bear the weight of your aspirations and desires
Of dreams
These desires are the dreams that you hold onto tightly
And it seems
However, it appears that
No one tries to understand
No one makes an effort to fully comprehend your goals and challenges
And the friend who's by your side
Even if you have someone supporting you
Is just a friend and not a guide
They are not a true guide unless they can truly empathize with you
Until he can comprehend
Only when your friend fully understands your struggles
Your journey cannot end
Will your journey reach its conclusion
Traveller all alone
If you journey by yourself
Can you make it on your own
Will you be able to persevere by yourself
You've tried
You have attempted to do so already
To make them understand
By explaining yourself repeatedly
And they feel their world's secure
People around you find solace in their own lives
And feel they can't endure
This stability gives them a sense of comfort which can't be lost
Someone they think's gonna start re-arranging
When they feel their world is being disrupted by someone else's goals or differences
And though your shoes are thick with dust
Even though you've walked a long way and faced hardships
The feeling they can't trust
People still are hesitant to have trust in things they don't fully comprehend
Something they don't understand
The unknown is a frightening prospect and people aren't willing to take risks easily
Keeps you moving
You keep moving ahead bravely, in spite of the roadblocks that come your way
The traveller
The wanderer who moves forward bravely
Contributed by Scarlett D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.