Wagon Wheels
Sammy Davis Jr. Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wagon wheels, wagon wheels,
Keep on a-turnin', wagon wheels,
Roll along, sing your song,
Carry me over the hill.

Go 'long, mule, there's a steamer at the landin',
Waitin' for the cotton to load,
Go 'long mule, the boss is understandin'
There's a pasture at the end of the road.

Wagon wheels, wagon wheels,
Keep on a-turnin', wagon wheels,
Roll along, sing your song,




Wagon wheels, carry me home,
Wagon wheels, carry me home.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sammy Davis’ “Wagon Wheels” tells a story of travel and movement. The chorus highlights the image of wagon wheels, which represent progress and journey. The repetition of the phrase “wagon wheels, wagon wheels” adds emphasis to the idea of moving forward. The choice of the word “turnin’” also portrays the idea of continuity and how one thing leads to another. The verse, on the other hand, tells the story of a mule driver transporting cotton to the landing. The line “carry me over the hill” is significant because it symbolizes the idea of overcoming obstacles and reaching a destination. The verse also shows the relationship between the driver and the mule, and the mutual understanding that exists between them.


Line by Line Meaning

Wagon wheels, wagon wheels,
The wagon wheels are old and move slow, but still keep going.


Keep on a-turnin', wagon wheels,
They move steadily and constantly despite being old and worn-out.


Roll along, sing your song,
The wheels move on while making the sound of the melody, indicating that life goes on despite all discomforts.


Carry me over the hill.
The wagon wheels help the artist overcome the obstacles of life.


Go 'long, mule, there's a steamer at the landin',
The artist is asking the mule to move faster because there's work to be done in record time.


Waitin' for the cotton to load,
The reason for rush is that cotton needs to be loaded and delivered.


Go 'long mule, the boss is understandin'
The boss appreciates hard work and dedication.


There's a pasture at the end of the road.
The artist sees green grass and blue skies at the end of the journey.


Wagon wheels, wagon wheels,
The wagon wheels still keep going.


Keep on a-turnin', wagon wheels,
They move steadily and constantly and can overcome any obstacle.


Roll along, sing your song,
The journey of life keeps going while the wheels of the wagon make melody.


Wagon wheels, carry me home,
The artist seeks help to complete his journey of life.


Wagon wheels, carry me home.
The singer seeks the help of the old wagon wheels to overcome the struggles of life and take him home.




Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: HILL BILLY, PETER DE ROSE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions