Sam writes original songs that seek to capture the spirit of the classic country music he learned from his favorite singers: George Jones, Willie Nelson, Gene Watson, Don Williams, Keith Whitley, Dwight Yoakam, etc.
While still relatively new to the scene, 2014 was a pivotal year for Outlaw. CMT premiered his first-ever music video last Christmas, after which his second music video became a viral hit, premiered by The Bluegrass Situation and shared by thousands in the Americana community.
Word spread about Sam’s self-released EP and live shows throughout Southern California and this buzz earned him a slot at The Stagecoach Festival in the Coachella Valley in April. He followed up this appearance with his Nashville debut at the world-renowned live music showcase, Music City Roots. He spent the summer writing new songs and returned to Nashville in the Fall as a featured artist at AmericanaFest.
Sam's full-length album, "Angeleno" was produced by roots music legend Ry Cooder. Some of LA's finest musicians were hand-picked for the "Angeleno" sessions, including Bo Koster (My Morning Jacket), Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), Gabe Witcher (Punch Brothers), Danny Garcia (Reverend Baron) as well as Jeremy Long (pedal steel), and Joachim Cooder (drums and co-producer).
"Angeleno" was released in 2015.
Ghost Town
Sam Outlaw Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
just how it used to be,
burning with the fire of industry
Wish that you could feel the life,
we once felt on these streets,
but you cant, no you cant
through some kind of ghost town,
Im on my way back home
Im on my way,
wish that I could slow down,
Im on my way back home
Nothing but one dead highway,
no blood in these veins,
you hardly see a car, truck, or train
Theres no one left to say what happened,
but I want some one to blame
but I cant, no I cant
Cause Im on my way,
through some kind of ghost town,
Im on my way back home
Im on my way,
wish that I could slow down,
Im on my way back home
Looking for some answers in the rubble, rocks, and sand,
The diggings got me nothing,
but some worn dirt on my hands,
I didnt see it coming,
never thought wed see her fall,
but maybe she was crumbling all along.
Wish that you could see my family,
just how it used to be,
burnin with a love so bright and free
I wish that I could hold my momma,
just once more before she leaves,
but I cant, no I cant
no I cant, no I cant, no I cant
Cause Im on my way,
through some kind of ghost town,
Im on my way back home
Im on my way,
wish that I could slow down,
Im on my way back home
Yeah Im on my way,
through some kind of ghost town,
Im on my way back home
Im on my way,
wish that I could go around,
Im on my way back home,
Im on my way back home,
Im on my way back home.
"Ghost Town" by Sam Outlaw is a melancholic song about a city that has been abandoned and forgotten by its former inhabitants. The singer wishes that he could show his loved ones how vibrant and alive the city once was, but unfortunately, it has now become a barren place with nothing but a dead highway and worn dirt. However, the singer is returning home, passing through a ghost town that has lost all of its previous glory. He is looking for answers amidst the rubble, rocks, and sand but the diggings have caused nothing but weariness to his hands. The city's sudden demise leaves him with a feeling of emptiness and longing. The singer also wishes to hold his mother one more time before she leaves, but it seems that it's too late to do so.
The song explores the theme of nostalgia, regret, and loss. The listener gets a glimpse of how it feels to revisit a place that once held so much vibrancy and life but now is reduced to nothing but desolation. The city has lost its former essence, and people have moved on. The singer is forced to move on as well, but the memory of the place lingers on.
Line by Line Meaning
Wish that you could see this city,
I wish you could see this city as it was before, full of life, excitement and possibilities
just how it used to be,
Just like it was in the past when we had a bustling city full of people and activities
burning with the fire of industry
With industries operating at full capacity, non-stop production and employment opportunities everywhere
Wish that you could feel the life,
I wish you could experience the liveliness and unity we had on these streets
we once felt on these streets,
The energy and vibe we had as a city before everything fell apart
but you cant, no you cant
Sadly, you can't experience it now because this city is now lifeless
Cause Im on my way,
I am leaving this ghost town
through some kind of ghost town,
Through a city that is now devoid of its former life, joy and productivity
Im on my way back home
I'm on my way back to the place I came from
Im on my way,
I am leaving this place that was once my home
wish that I could slow down,
I wish I could take more time to be nostalgic about what once was
Nothing but one dead highway,
There is only one lifeless road leading out of this dead city
no blood in these veins,
This city is no longer vibrant or full of life, it has lost its pulse and energy
you hardly see a car, truck, or train
There's almost no transportation going on within or outside the city
Theres no one left to say what happened,
No one can explain how this city went from a vibrant hub to a lifeless town
but I want some one to blame
There has to be some explanation for what we lost as a city
but I cant, no I cant
But ultimately, I can't blame anyone because what's done is done
Looking for some answers in the rubble, rocks, and sand,
I am searching for some answers to what led to the downfall of this once great city
The diggings got me nothing,
Unfortunately my search has yielded no results
but some worn dirt on my hands,
The only thing I have to show for my search is dirt on my hands
I didnt see it coming,
I never saw the decline of our city coming and it took me by surprise
never thought wed see her fall,
It's a shock that such a vibrant city could fall so low
but maybe she was crumbling all along.
Perhaps there were signs all along that we were failing as a city
Wish that you could see my family,
I wish you could experience the warmth and love of my family
just how it used to be,
Just like it was before when we were all happy and content
burnin with a love so bright and free
We had so much love and freedom in our family, it was like a flame that never went out
I wish that I could hold my momma,
I wish I could have one last embrace with my mother before she departs
just once more before she leaves,
It would mean everything to me to have one last moment with her before she passes away
no I cant, no I cant, no I cant
Unfortunately, I can't go back in time to experience anything the way it used to be
Yeah Im on my way,
Yes, I am leaving this place behind
wish that I could go around,
I wish I could avoid this ghost town altogether
Im on my way back home,
I am heading back to my original home where things were better than here
Im on my way back home,
I am eager to leave this ghost town in the rearview and return to where I belong.
Contributed by Violet Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Everyday With Maggie - Travel and Play and Toys
Wish that you could see this city,
just how it used to be,
burning with the fire of industry
Wish that you could feel the life,
we once felt on these streets,
but you cant, no you cant
Cause Im on my way,
through some kind of ghost town,
Im on my way back home
Im on my way,
wish that I could slow down,
Im on my way back home
Nothing but one dead highway,
no blood in these veins,
you hardly see a car, truck, or train
Theres no one left to say what happened,
but I want some one to blame
but I cant, no I cant
Cause Im on my way,
through some kind of ghost town,
Im on my way back home
Im on my way,
wish that I could slow down,
Im on my way back home
Looking for some answers in the rubble, rocks, and sand,
The diggings got me nothing,
but some worn dirt on my hands,
I didnt see it coming,
never thought wed see her fall,
but maybe she was crumbling all along.
Wish that you could see my family,
just how it used to be,
burnin with a love so bright and free
I wish that I could hold my momma,
just once more before she leaves,
but I cant, no I cant
no I cant, no I cant, no I cant
Cause Im on my way,
through some kind of ghost town,
Im on my way back home
Im on my way,
wish that I could slow down,
Im on my way back home
Yeah Im on my way,
through some kind of ghost town,
Im on my way back home
Im on my way,
wish that I could go around,
Im on my way back home,
Im on my way back home,
Im on my way back home.
Robert Loder
I don't usually listen to country music but this song has been stuck in my head since I first heard it on CBC radio... Love it.
StudyRocker
OMG there's someone still writing great country music! Thank you, Sam! Thank you! First time I heard it I knew this is one to keep.
Nói Ahlqvist
StudyRocker check out Glitter and gold with Barns Courtney
Jonny Weiss
StudyRocker
YouTube- Jonny Weiss “Back to Phoenix.”
Jonny Weiss
StudyRocker
Jonny Weiss “Back to Phoenix.” 😎
brittney mcfee
I agree! Jonny Weiss “Lonesome Cowboy.” 🎶
Jon Weiss
Jonny Weiss “Burning Man!” 🎶
Elizabeth Larroquet
Que linda música me encanta desde Argentina Saludos
michael strawn
Actually, this one has been in my rotation for at least 6 months now, and I am not tired of it. It hits so many right notes.
Terrance Bernard
Heard this on the CBC radio one day when I was doing home renovations. This song caught me by surprise and I actually stopped what I was doing and just stood their listening. Awesome song Sam.