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.
The Road I'm On
Ryan Bingham Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Until I'm up and I'm gone again
Forever traveling this road I'm on
How long can I sing the blues?
Ain't worth what I have to loose
Paying up these god damn dues
On the road I'm on
Ain't nothing but where I've gone
And the road I'm on,
I've been looking like a heart attack
But in the mirror I can't look back
Now I that I made new tracks
On the road I'm on
Somebody just pass me something to smoke
I need to laugh but I'm out of joke
Just take me one more talk for road I'm on
Oh baby, it's late at night, I see something in my headlights
Ain't nothing but where I've gone
And the road I'm on,
The road I'm on
There's something wrong with the telephone
There's nowhere for the chord to go
I'm headed home, the road I'm on
Ryan Bingham's song The Road I'm On is a powerful tribute to the life of a traveling musician. The lyrics paint a picture of a man who is constantly on the move, unsure of where he's been until he's already left, and singing the blues so often that it's difficult to tell when it's just another moment of sadness that will eventually pass. He's traveled so many miles that all he can see in his headlights is where he's already been, yet he continues to travel, searching for something that he can't quite name.
The chorus of the song is particularly poignant, with the line "how long can I sing the blues?", asking a question that many musicians on the road have likely asked themselves. Bingham's lyrics reflect the loneliness and disconnection that comes from always being on the move, whether it's the need to smoke or to have one more talk before returning to the journey.
Ultimately, the song is a powerful reflection on the highs and lows of life on the road, and the toll that it takes on those who choose to walk this path. It's a song that speaks to anyone who has ever felt lost or unsure of their direction, and reminds us that even when we're on a lonely, difficult road, there's still beauty and power in the journey.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't even know where I've been
My life is so fast-paced and constant that I lose track of where I go from time to time.
Until I'm up and I'm gone again
I always have to keep moving and starting anew.
Forever traveling this road I'm on
My life is characterized by constant traveling, as though it is an endless road that I must follow.
How long can I sing the blues?
Being on the road for so long can be tiring and depressing, and I wonder how long I can handle it.
Ain't worth what I have to lose
Being on the road requires me to give up so much, and I'm not sure if it's worth the cost.
Paying up these god damn dues
The sacrifices and hardships I face while traveling are like paying my dues for the lifestyle I've chosen.
Oh baby, it's late at night, I see something in my headlights
Despite the fatigue and loneliness, I keep going because I see the road illuminated by my headlights and the hope for new adventures.
Ain't nothing but where I've gone
The light only shows where I've been, the past experiences that shape who I am and what I do.
I've been looking like a heart attack
The stress and pace of my life have taken a toll on my physical and mental health.
But in the mirror I can't look back
I have to keep looking and moving forward, no matter how difficult it is and how much I may want to stop.
Now I that I made new tracks
Despite the struggles, I've also had new experiences and created new paths that make it all worth it.
Somebody just pass me something to smoke
The coping mechanisms I use to deal with the stress and loneliness of my life on the road.
I need to laugh but I'm out of joke
Despite wanting to find joy and humor in my life, I don't always feel like I have the energy or resources to do so.
Just take me one more talk for road I'm on
Through all the ups and downs, I keep going because this is the life I've chosen and I feel like there's no going back.
There's something wrong with the telephone
Even though I'm always on the move and traveling, I still crave connection and communication with others.
There's nowhere for the chord to go
Sometimes, no matter how much I try to reach out or connect, it feels like there's no one there to receive my message or support me.
I'm headed home, the road I'm on
Despite all the adventures and experiences along the way, the road inevitably leads back home, where I can reflect on everything and prepare for the next leg of the journey.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RYAN BINGHAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Erica T
My cousin was playing this right before he died on his motorcycle the accident was caused by a drunk driver. RIP Pierson lov u
All Fallons Fronds
@Erica T god bless babe. Just know He’s always with us.
Erica T
@All Fallons Fronds Thank you so much God Bless
All Fallons Fronds
Rip Pierson. 💔
Z BOYS
Open doors minds wallets . Borders ?