All The Boys
Romany Rye Lyrics
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She was my first love, that I ever had
When I hit Nashville, All the boys in the van
Just plain' the guitar, in a rock n roll band
Singin' It's a lonely road, and the ground, is cold
And the Devil's hands, they got a hold of me
It's a lonely road and the ground is coldAnd Tennessee, you drown my soul
When daylight breaks, I'll be behind the wheel
Spanish boots of leather, is how I feel
Too many smokes, I wanna be rollin' stoned
Want too many jokes, I just wanna go home
It's a lonely road, and the ground is cold
And the Devil's hands, they got a hold of me
It's a lonely road and the ground is cold
And Tennessee, you drown my soul
If love is blind, then why does it hide?
Guess the doors of perception, swing wide
Swing low, sweet chariot
Take my weight and bury it
It's a lonely road, and the ground is cold
And the Devil's hands, they got a hold of me
It's a lonely road and the ground is cold
And Tennessee, you drown my soul
The song "All The Boys" by Romany Rye describes the hardships of life on the road as a musician. The opening line, "La skyline, is breaking my back," sets the tone for the rest of the song. The singer is exhausted and weighed down by the trials of constantly touring and performing. The line "She was my first love, that I ever had" could refer to the city of Los Angeles itself, which can be a difficult place to thrive as an artist.
When the singer reaches Nashville, he is joined by "All the boys in the van," his fellow bandmates who are also struggling to make it in the music industry. They turn to playing their guitars, hoping their rock and roll dreams will one day become a reality. However, the road is tough and the singer is haunted by personal demons, as seen in the lines "And the Devil's hands, they got a hold of me" and "And Tennessee, you drown my soul."
The chorus is a bleak portrait of the singer's feelings of loneliness and despair while on the road. He longs for home and wishes to escape the tiring cycle of performing and traveling. However, it seems as though the singer has come to accept his fate. The final lines, "Swing low, sweet chariot / Take my weight and bury it," suggest a desire for release from the burden of being a musician.
Line by Line Meaning
La skyline, is breaking my back
The hustle and bustle of Los Angeles is exhausting and taking a toll on the singer's body.
She was my first love, that I ever had
The city of LA was the singer's first love and they're now feeling the effects of that love.
When I hit Nashville, All the boys in the van
Upon arriving in Nashville, the singer is greeted by his bandmates who are ready to hit the road again.
Just plain' the guitar, in a rock n roll band
As a member of a rock band, the singer is playing the guitar and rocking out with his bandmates.
Singin' It's a lonely road, and the ground, is cold
Despite being surrounded by his bandmates, the singer feels loneliness and a sense of isolation on the road.
And the Devil's hands, they got a hold of me
The temptations and vices of the rock and roll lifestyle have a grip on the singer.
And Tennessee, you drown my soul
The state of Tennessee, a place the band is passing through, is taking an emotional toll on the singer.
When daylight breaks, I'll be behind the wheel
As they continue their journey, the singer will be driving the van during the day.
Spanish boots of leather, is how I feel
The singer is feeling confident and ready to take on whatever challenges come their way, evoking an image of a powerful and stylish boot.
Too many smokes, I wanna be rollin' stoned
The singer has indulged in too many cigarettes and desires the feeling of being high on marijuana (rollin' stoned).
Want too many jokes, I just wanna go home
The singer is tired of the constant touring and longs for the comfort and familiarity of home.
If love is blind, then why does it hide?
The singer questions why love can be so elusive even when it's said to be blind.
Guess the doors of perception, swing wide
The singer realizes that maybe their perception has been clouded and they need to be more open to love.
Swing low, sweet chariot
The singer calls out for a vehicle to take them away from their struggles, using the metaphor of a chariot to transport them to a better place.
Take my weight and bury it
The singer wants to rid themselves of their emotional pain and struggles, asking for someone or something to take the burden off their shoulders.
It's a lonely road, and the ground is cold
Despite the adventures and excitement of touring, the life of a musician can be isolating and emotionally taxing.
And the Devil's hands, they got a hold of me
The dangers of the rock and roll lifestyle are highlighted again, with the singer acknowledging the grip that temptation has on them.
And Tennessee, you drown my soul
The troubles and emotional struggles that the band is experiencing in Tennessee are weighing heavily on the singer's soul and heart.
Contributed by Jackson A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.