After taking a brief recording hiatus in the mid-1990s to start a family with her husband, songwriter Doug Crider, Bogguss returned to the country music scene to find that her charting power had already faded. Although she last appeared on the Billboard Hot Country Singles Chart in 1999, Bogguss continues to record and perform around the country to a loyal following.
Her most recent recordings have ventured into swing and jazz variations of country. These albums really showcase the tremendous talent in her voice. Suzy is a true singer, and her voice has so much versatility.
In 2014, Suzy added an album of Merle Haggard songs entitled "Lucky". The country & western flavor dominates this album, unlike some of her other recent work. To promote this new album, Suzy has embarked on a nationwide tour.
The Bus Ride
Suzy Bogguss Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Daddy's figured it out by now
She's long gone
To a town she'd heard in a song
On the radio years ago
On a bus
Frankie offers her last cigarette
On the ride she tells a tale
Of dreams undone and those to come
Chorus
Oh, oh, oh
Maybe we're not alone
Oh, oh, oh
Maybe we're not alone
On the aisle
A man turns to say
I've got nothing to hold me since she went away
Angel says hey man, Frankie and me
You know we're startin' new just like you
So they ride
Side by side by side
Into the darkness
Every mile that they're passin' through
Just makes them think it could be true
[Chorus]
[Bridge]
But surrounded by
Silent points of light that fight to be seen
In a world that's quick to cast it's shadow
And douse the beams
Driver says
It's the end of the line, time to go
So Frankie wakes angel
Hey we're here
I don't know where here is
Just some town
This is just some bus
But it's far enough
For the three of us
[Chorus: x2]
"The Bus Ride" by Suzy Bogguss tells the story of Frankie, a young woman who is running away from her life and looking for a new beginning. Her father knows she's gone, and she's traveling on a bus to a town she had heard about on the radio years ago. On the bus, she meets a man named Angel, and she offers him her last cigarette. As they travel together, she tells him about the dreams that she has given up on and the ones she still hopes to achieve.
Along the way, they encounter a man who tells them he has nothing left since his woman left him. Angel reminds the man that Frankie and he are starting new, just like him. The three of them ride side by side into the darkness, each mile making them believe that maybe they are not alone in their struggles. They are surrounded by silent points of light that fight to be seen in a world quick to cast its shadow and douse the beams.
When the driver announces that it's the end of the line, Frankie wakes Angel, and they step off the bus onto a new path. No one knows where they are, but it's far enough for the three of them to start anew. The song suggests that hope can be found, even in the darkest of times, and the possibility that there are others out there who are also searching for something new.
Line by Line Meaning
Frankie is gone
Frankie has left, she is no longer present
Daddy's figured it out by now
Frankie's father has likely realized that she is gone
She's long gone
Frankie has been gone for a significant amount of time
To a town she'd heard in a song
Frankie has left for a town she had previously heard about in a song
On the radio years ago
She heard the song on the radio some time in the past
On a bus
Frankie is riding on a bus
Frankie offers her last cigarette
Frankie gives her last cigarette to someone on the bus
To someone named angel
The person who received the cigarette is named Angel
On the ride she tells a tale
Frankie tells a story while on the bus
Of dreams undone and those to come
Frankie talks about both her past failed dreams and her future aspirations
Chorus
Repetition of the phrase 'Maybe we're not alone'
A man turns to say
A man on the bus speaks up
I've got nothing to hold me since she went away
The man is struggling since someone he cares about left him
Angel says hey man, Frankie and me
Angel introduces herself and Frankie to the man
You know we're startin' new just like you
Angel and Frankie are also starting fresh, similar to the man
So they ride
They continue on the bus journey
Side by side by side
The three of them are sitting next to each other on the bus
Into the darkness
The bus is traveling through a dark area
Every mile that they're passin' through
As the bus goes further, they start to believe their dreams can come true
Just makes them think it could be true
The journey is giving them hope
Chorus
Repetition of the phrase 'Maybe we're not alone'
But surrounded by
Despite their hope, they are still surrounded by something
Silent points of light that fight to be seen
The darkness is illuminated by small, barely visible lights
In a world that's quick to cast it's shadow
The world often focuses on negative aspects, even when there is light
And douse the beams
This negativity can extinguish the small lights
Driver says
The bus driver speaks to the passengers
It's the end of the line, time to go
The bus ride has come to an end
So Frankie wakes angel
Frankie wakes up Angel from sleeping on the bus
Hey we're here
Frankie tells Angel they have arrived
I don't know where here is
Frankie is unsure of their location
Just some town
They are in a small, unknown town
This is just some bus
The bus is not special or significant
But it's far enough
The town is far from where they started and represents a fresh start
For the three of us
Frankie, Angel, and the man are embarking on this new adventure together
Chorus
Repetition of the phrase 'Maybe we're not alone'
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, A SIDE MUSIC LLC D/B/A MODERN WORKS MUSIC PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: MATTHEW CHARLES ROLLINGS, GARY SCOTT BURR, ANNA WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind