Bingham dropped out of school at 17 and was introduced to rodeo bull riding. He learned the emotional aspect of pain early in life, when shuttling between small towns and family members in the hardscrabble ranching communities of West Texas and Hobbs, New Mexico -- and became well-acquainted with the physical facets of pain during his years on the Southwestern rodeo circuit.
That ache is palpable in the grooves of Mescalito, Ryan Bingham’s Lost Highway debut, but what’s even more plain is the steely strength needed to overcome it -- a tenor that’s evident in both the singer-songwriter’s preternaturally wizened voice and his remarkably poignant songs, which resonate with roadhouse wisdom and rough-and-ready border-town piquancy.
The Beg For Broken Legs Songfacts reports that Bingham's fourth album, Tomorrowland, was recorded in Malibu, California with producer Justin Stanley and self-released through Bingham's new independent record label Axster Bingham Records on September 18, 2012.
He has won an Oscar for the best film song (Crazy Heart - The Weary Kind) in 2010.
Influences include Bob Dylan among others.
Rollin' Highway Blues
Ryan Bingham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'd take a chance and fall in love with you
But I know I couldn't have one more dance
To bring you back to the rollin' highway blues
'Cause I'm back to fallin' down again, my friends
I don't have any more luck to lose
I wish the train would haul away every card I choose
And darlin', don't regret leavin' a drunken fool
And darlin', don't respect a man that don't care for you
Never go back to the rollin' highway blues
'Cause every night I fall asleep with whiskey in my mind
Hopin' that I might wake up next to you
But I know I'll wake alone in the mornin' dew
And head back out on the rollin' highway blues
And darlin', don't regret leavin' a drunken fool
And darlin', don't respect a man that don't care for you
Never go back to the rollin' highway blues
Darlin', don't regret leavin' a drunken fool
Never go back to the rollin' highway blues
The lyrics of Ryan Bingham & The Dead Horses's song Rollin Highway Blues tell the story of a man who is haunted by his past mistakes and wishes he could go back in time to make things right with the woman he loves. The singer laments that he doesn't have any more luck to lose and longs for one more chance to dance with his lover. However, he knows in his heart that he will never be able to bring her back from the rollin' highway blues.
The song is a poignant and soulful reflection on the pain and regret that can come with lost love and the endless cycle of addiction. Throughout the lyrics, the singer pleads with his ex-lover not to regret leaving him and warns her not to come back to the rollin highway blues, a metaphor for a life of regrets and dead ends.
Overall, Rollin Highway Blues is a powerful and heartfelt ode to the mistakes we make in life and the enduring hope that we can find redemption and love in spite of them.
Line by Line Meaning
If I had the chance to hold you again in my cryin' eyes
If given the opportunity to see you once more, I would take the risk of falling in love with you again, despite the pain it may bring.
I'd take a chance and fall in love with you
I would risk my heart to feel the love we once shared again.
But I know I couldn't have one more dance
Unfortunately, I am aware that I cannot relive the past and have another chance with you.
To bring you back to the rollin' highway blues
To bring you back to my current state of loneliness and despair, which is symbolized by the road I travel.
'Cause I'm back to fallin' down again, my friends
I have returned to my old ways of drowning my sorrows with alcohol and succumbing to the pain of lost love.
I don't have any more luck to lose
I have nothing left to hope for, as my luck has already run out.
I wish the train would haul away every card I choose
I wish that my choices in life could be taken away by a train, as they have only led me to pain and heartache.
Bring you back to the rollin' highway blues
Bring you back to my current state of loneliness and despair, as I cannot escape it.
And darlin', don't regret leavin' a drunken fool
My love, do not feel remorse for leaving me, as it was the right decision to make, and I am simply a foolish drunkard.
And darlin', don't respect a man that don't care for you
Please do not have feelings of admiration for a man who does not truly care for you, as I have been in the past.
Never go back to the rollin' highway blues
Never return to a life of loneliness and despair, as it is not a place of happiness or love.
'Cause every night I fall asleep with whiskey in my mind
Every night, I go to bed with thoughts of alcohol and despair, and it consumes my mind.
Hopin' that I might wake up next to you
I dream of waking up next to you, hoping that one day we may be reunited.
But I know I'll wake alone in the mornin' dew
Unfortunately, I know that I will awaken by myself in the morning, with no one to share my life with.
And head back out on the rollin' highway blues
I will continue on my path of loneliness and despair, symbolized by the road I travel.
Darlin', don't regret leavin' a drunken fool
My love, do not feel remorse for leaving me, as it was the right decision to make, and I am simply a foolish drunkard.
Never go back to the rollin' highway blues
Never return to a life of loneliness and despair, as it is not a place of happiness or love.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GEORGE RYAN BINGHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elliott P
on Western Shore
"Loud on the Western shore, you're no longer brave"
You used to be scared, but now you are bravely living your life out loud
Think you missed this one
More than once
Significant I think that he ended the song with "you are no longer brave".
Think it was easy for him to have been brave previously because he had nothing to lose as he also points out in What would I've become. He does now and that's changed him