His debut album "State of Mind" also contains a guest apperance on harmonica by Stevie Wonder on the track titled "Expression of Love".
Raul Midón's debut on US television was The Late Show with David Letterman on June 28, 2005.
These Wheels
Raul Midón Lyrics
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Tears run down like a river, stoke the darkest passion
I look for you but you're not there
I shout and cry, you shut out my prayer
These wheels lead me into darkness
These wheels, covered with lies
These wheels lead me into darkness
You hide yourself in a crowd, you were like my enemy
Set fire inside this beggar's heart, you're always done before I start
You pulled the strings that brought me whole
You take all comfort from my soul
These wheels lead me into darkness
These wheels, covered with lies
These wheels lead me into darkness
These wheels
Sit there on the perch you built
Above the tears that have been spilled
I am punished by my pride
But that's just one more place to hide
These wheels
These wheels
These wheels
These wheels
These wheels lead me into darkness
These wheels, covered with lies
These wheels lead me into darkness
These wheels
These wheels lead me into darkness
These wheels, covered with lies
These wheels lead me into darkness
These wheels
The lyrics to Raul Midón's song "These Wheels" are rife with feelings of loneliness, despair, and betrayal. The opening line "Fill my heart with loneliness, cover me with ashes" sets a grim tone, immediately establishing an image of someone who has been left alone, feeling empty and hopeless. The use of ashes is a powerful metaphor for death, and it effectively communicates the sense of loss and mourning that the singer is going through.
The second line, "Tears run down like a river, stoke the darkest passion" continues the theme of sorrow, emphasizing the intensity of the singer's emotions. The use of the word 'passion' implies that the sorrow is not one of resignation, but of anger and frustration. It is as if the singer's tears are fueling a desire for revenge, or at the very least, justice.
The third and fourth lines, "I look for you but you're not there, I shout and cry, you shut out my prayer" bring in the key element of betrayal. The singer has been abandoned by someone who they trusted, and their cries are not being heard. The repetition of the word 'you' emphasizes this loss and underscores the sense of isolation that the singer feels.
The recurring refrain, "These wheels lead me into darkness" is a powerful image that suggests a loss of control. The singer is being pulled inexorably towards something, but they don't know what it is or how to stop it. The wheels are "covered with lies," suggesting that they have been duped or misled.Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the depths of human emotion and the isolation that can come with loss and betrayal.
Line by Line Meaning
Fill my heart with loneliness, cover me with ashes
I feel an overwhelming sense of emptiness and despair, as if my heart has been drained of all happiness and replaced with ashes.
Tears run down like a river, stoke the darkest passion
My tears flow uncontrollably, fueling a deep-seated and intense emotional pain within me.
I look for you but you're not there
I desperately search for you, but you are nowhere to be found.
I shout and cry, you shut out my prayer
Even when I try to reach out to you for comfort, you refuse to listen and ignore my pleas.
These wheels lead me into darkness
My life seems to be spiraling out of control, heading towards a dark and uncertain future.
These wheels, covered with lies
The path I am on is built entirely on deceit and falsehoods, and it is leading me to a place of even greater darkness.
You hide yourself in a crowd, you were like my enemy
You have become like a stranger to me, blending seamlessly into the masses and creating a sense of hostility between us.
Set fire inside this beggar's heart, you're always done before I start
You ignite a fire within me, but you always seem to lose interest or move on before I can fully express my feelings.
You pulled the strings that brought me whole
You had complete control over my life and emotions, and you were responsible for my sense of wholeness and well-being.
You take all comfort from my soul
You drain any sense of happiness or contentment from me, leaving me feeling even more lost and alone.
Sit there on the perch you built
You sit arrogantly on a pedestal you created for yourself, looking down on those you have wronged.
Above the tears that have been spilled
You are unaffected by the pain and sorrow I have experienced as a result of your actions.
I am punished by my pride
My own stubbornness and sense of self-righteousness have led me down this dark path.
But that's just one more place to hide
My pride has become a way for me to avoid confronting my true feelings and seeking help.
These wheels
The cycle of pain and despair that I am caught in.
These wheels lead me into darkness
The painful pattern of my life continues as I am led further into a place of darkness.
These wheels, covered with lies
The lies and falsehoods that comprise my life continue to guide me further away from the truth and towards further pain.
These wheels lead me into darkness
My life continues down the same path, with nothing to guide me but the painful cycle of my own emotions.
These wheels
The endless cycle of pain and despair that I have been unable to break free from.
Contributed by Kaitlyn E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.