The Low Highway
Steve Earle & The Dukes (And Duchesses) Lyrics
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On the low highway
Three thousand miles
To the Frisco Bay
Cross the rivers wild
And the lonesome plains
Up the coast and down
Saw empty houses on a dead end street
People linin up for something to eat
And the ghost of America watching me
Through the broken windows of the factories
Pickin bones of a better day
As I roll on the down the low highway
Travelin' now
On the low highway
By the yellow moon
And the light of day
From the snow white crown
Of the mountain tall
To the valley down
Where the shadows fall
Met a man with a rifle in his hand
Been away to battle in a distant land
Taught him to hate taught him to kill
Now he's out on the road with a hole to fill
Nobody knows the price he paid
So he takes his toll on the low highway
Travelin' now
On the low highway
Windows down
Listenin
Wheels turnin round
On the asphalt sayin
Every sound
Is a prophecy
Heard and old man grumble and a young girl cry
Brick wall crumble and the white dove fly
And a cry for justice and a call for peace
Force of reason in the roar of the beast
And every mile is a prayer I prayed
As I roll down
The low highway
The Low Highway by Steve Earle and The Dukes (& Duchesses) is a song about traveling on the low road and encountering a variety of people and experiences. The singer is traveling to San Francisco on this low road, describing the different sights and sounds he sees along the way. He passes through deserted neighborhoods where people wait in line for food, and abandoned factories where he feels the ghost of America watching him. He talks about the difficulties of war and the toll it takes on those who fight in it, as well as the need for justice and peace.
The song has a strong message about the cost of war and the problems in America that are often overlooked. Steve Earle is known for his politically charged lyrics, and this song is no exception. He uses the low highway as a metaphor for the struggles and problems that exist in America today, such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality. The song is a criticism of the country's leaders and their policies, suggesting that they should pay more attention to the needs of the people.
Line by Line Meaning
Travelin' now
Beginning a journey
On the low highway
Taking a route that isn't popular or luxurious
Three thousand miles
Covering a long distance
To the Frisco Bay
Destination point in San Francisco
Cross the rivers wild
Passing through dangerous territories
And the lonesome plains
Facing vast empty spaces
Up the coast and down
Navigating along the coastline
And back again
Undertaking the same journey twice
Saw empty houses on a dead end street
Observing abandoned homes in a depressed area
People linin up for something to eat
Witnessing hunger and poverty
And the ghost of America watching me
Feeling haunted by the nation's history and present state
Through the broken windows of the factories
Seeing signs of decline and unemployment
Pickin bones of a better day
Reflecting on past glories and losses
As I roll on the down the low highway
Moving forward despite obstacles and doubts
By the yellow moon
Under the light of the Moon
And the light of day
During the daytime
From the snow white crown
From the highest point covered in snow
Of the mountain tall
From the top of a tall mountain
To the valley down
To a low-lying area
Where the shadows fall
Where there's darkness and uncertainty
Met a man with a rifle in his hand
Encountering a veteran
Been away to battle in a distant land
Having served in a foreign conflict
Taught him to hate taught him to kill
Having been conditioned to violence
Now he's out on the road with a hole to fill
Struggling to find purpose and direction
Nobody knows the price he paid
Acknowledging the emotional and physical costs of war
So he takes his toll on the low highway
Dealing with the aftermath in his own way
Windows down
Enjoying the breeze and fresh air
Listenin
Attentive to sounds and surroundings
Wheels turnin round
Making progress
On the asphalt sayin
Through the act of driving
Every sound
Every noise
Is a prophecy
Has a deeper meaning or significance
Heard and old man grumble and a young girl cry
Witnessing different age groups expressing discontent
Brick wall crumble and the white dove fly
Seeing destruction and hope at the same time
And a cry for justice and a call for peace
Recognizing the need for social change
Force of reason in the roar of the beast
Finding rationality and purpose in tumultuous times
And every mile is a prayer I prayed
Using the trip as a form of meditation or reflection
As I roll down
As the journey continues
The low highway
The challenging but authentic path to one's destination
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind