Broken Promises
Rusty Truck Lyrics
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At county fairs round down in Bakersfield
I like to ride in the rodeo from time to time, yes I do
Money comes and the money's gone
It's the same old line in a different old song
I wanna go on home but I don't know when
Chorus
I won't dry up all the rain
I understand broken promises get broken again
Headlights move all around my room
I close my eyes daylights creeping on in
I like to think about you from time to time, yes I do
And the picture fades with each years gone by
Pour another drink, tell another white lie
I'm gonna pack my bags, it's time to move on
Chorus x2
Even though when the sun comes out
I won't dry up all the rain
I understand broken promises get broken again
Blacktop moves underneath the sun
As the bus heads south through another Texas town
It's time to go to work and make my pay, yes it is
Oh no, no, no and I think back on all my sinking ships
Smile comes through these tired old lips
You to say to me, been lonely too long
Yeah no no no
Chorus x2
Even though when the sun comes out
I won't dry up all the rain
I understand broken promises get broken again
The lyrics of Rusty Truck’s “Broken Promises” may seem straightforward at first, but they convey a depth of emotion and experience that speaks to the universal human condition. The opening lines, “Take a ride on a ferris wheel / At county fairs round down in Bakersfield”, create a sense of nostalgia and whimsy. The lyrics then delve into more complex themes such as the cyclical nature of making and breaking promises, the fleeting nature of love, and the struggles of making a living.
The lines “Money comes and the money's gone / It's the same old line in a different old song / I wanna go on home but I don't know when” capture the despair and uncertainty of financial struggles. Meanwhile, the chorus, with its repetition of “even though when the sun comes out / I won't dry up all the rain,” highlights the inevitability of broken promises and the inability of one person to fix everything. The song’s final verse, with its imagery of “blacktop moves underneath the sun / As the bus heads south through another Texas town,” displays the sense of restlessness and desire for a better life that runs throughout the song.
Overall, “Broken Promises” is an achingly beautiful testament to the human experience of disappointment, heartbreak, and the search for meaning and stability in a world that often seems to be falling apart.
Line by Line Meaning
Take a ride on a ferris wheel
Enjoy the little things in life, like riding a ferris wheel and attending county fairs in Bakersfield
At county fairs round down in Bakersfield
Experience the local culture and traditions found in county fairs in Bakersfield
I like to ride in the rodeo from time to time, yes I do
Try new and exciting things, like riding in rodeos
Money comes and the money's gone
Financial instability can be a constant struggle
It's the same old line in a different old song
Life can feel repetitive since people often go through the same struggles year after year
I wanna go on home but I don't know when
Feeling lost and uncertain about the future and longing for a stable home life
Headlights move all around my room
Feeling overwhelmed with distractions and struggling to focus
I close my eyes daylights creeping on in
Feeling the pressure of time and age creeping up on oneself
I like to think about you from time to time, yes I do
Reflecting on past relationships and memories
And the picture fades with each years gone by
Memories can fade and become harder to recall as time passes
Pour another drink, tell another white lie
Using alcohol to self-soothe and avoid facing difficult truths
I'm gonna pack my bags, it's time to move on
Feeling the need for change and a fresh start
Even though when the sun comes out
Despite positive changes or good moments in life,
I won't dry up all the rain
One cannot erase the bad times or forget the broken promises
I understand broken promises get broken again
Acknowledging that promises can continue to be broken and people can continue to be let down
As the bus heads south through another Texas town
Traveling and moving on to new places and experiences
It's time to go to work and make my pay, yes it is
Working hard to make a living, despite the struggles and hardships
Oh no, no, no and I think back on all my sinking ships
Reflecting on past failures and missed opportunities
Smile comes through these tired old lips
Finding small moments of happiness or contentment despite feeling worn out and exhausted
You to say to me, been lonely too long
Realizing that loneliness has been a constant theme in one's life
I understand broken promises get broken again
Reiterating the idea that promises can continue to be broken and people can continue to be let down
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
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