The Bad Shepherds play punk songs on folk instruments. Not as a joke, but because they really like the noise. They think the songs are better than people remember. They love folk instruments. It works. They do songs by The Sex Pistols, The Clash, The Stranglers The Jam, Sham 69, The Undertones, Talking Heads, Squeeze and others, even Kraftwerk! Alright, they're not all punk, but they come from roughly the same era. The songs are mostly given a kind of Celtic feel, with the odd reel and jig stuck here and there. But occassionally they just thrash! They've always thought the excitement of a reel taking off is the nearest thing to the excitement of watching punk live in the 70s!
Other musicians recording and appearing with the Bad Shapherds include Carol Dawson (fiddle), Eimear Bradley (fiddle), Keith Angel (percussion), Mark Woolley (percussion), Martin Allcock (bass), Brad Lang (bass) and Tim Harries (bass).
Their albums include:
Yan, Tyan, Tethera, Methera! (2008)
By Hook or By Crook (2010)
Road To Nowhere
The Bad Shepherds Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And we know what we're knowing, but we can't say what we've seen
And we're not little children, and we know what we want
And the future is certain, give us time to work it out
Yeah
We're on a road to nowhere, come on inside
Feeling okay this morning, and you know
We're on a road to paradise, here we go, here we go
We're on a ride to nowhere, come on inside
Taking that ride to nowhere, we'll take that ride
Maybe you'll wonder where you are, I don't care
Even when time is on our side, take you there, take you there
We're on a road to nowhere, ha, ha
We're on a road to nowhere, ha, ha
We're on a road to nowhere, ha, ha, whoo
There's a city in my mind, come along and take that ride, and it's all right, baby, it's all right
And it's very far away, but it's growing day by day, and it's all right, baby, it's all right
Would you like to come along, you can help me sing this song, and it's all right, baby, it's all right
They can tell you what to do, but they'll make a fool of you, and it's all right, baby, it's all right
There's a city in my mind, come along and take that ride, and it's all right, baby, it's all right
And it's very far away, but it's growing day by day, and it's all right, baby, it's all right
Yeah, would you like to come along, you can help me sing this song, and it's all right, baby, it's all right
They can tell you what to do, oh, God, they'll make a fool of you, and it's all right, baby, it's all right
We're on a road to nowhere, hey
We're on a road to nowhere, ha
We're on a road to nowhere, ha, ha
We're on a road to nowhere
The Bad Shepherds's song "Road to Nowhere" is a cryptic yet optimistic commentary on the human condition, our longing for meaning and purpose, and the uncertainty of our collective journey. The opening lines express a paradox that captures the essence of the song: we are aware of our destination, yet we're not sure of our origin or the path we took to get here. We know what we know, yet we can't articulate what we've seen. These lines are a nod to the idea that knowledge is fleeting and that our memories are often unreliable. However, the chorus reassures us that we are not alone on this journey, and that together, we can find our own version of paradise, even if it is an illusion.
The song's upbeat tempo and catchy melody contrast with its existential themes, creating a tension that mirrors the human experience. The repetition of the phrase "we're on a road to nowhere" can be interpreted as a nihilistic statement about the futility of existence, or it can be seen as a rallying cry to embrace the unknown and to make the best of our time on this earth. The city in the singer's mind represents the possibility of a better future, a place that is still far away but that is growing day by day.
Overall, "Road to Nowhere" is a complex and layered song that invites multiple interpretations. It speaks to the human condition in a way that is both universal and personal, reminding us that we are all on this journey together.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, we know where we're going, but we don't know where we've been
We have a destination in mind, but we have no idea about our past experiences.
And we know what we're knowing, but we can't say what we've seen
We understand the knowledge we possess, but our experiences are difficult to articulate.
And we're not little children, and we know what we want
We are not immature; we have a clear idea of what we desire.
And the future is certain, give us time to work it out
We have complete faith in the future, but it will take time and effort to resolve issues.
We're on a road to nowhere, come on inside
We are travelling aimlessly, feel free to join us.
We'll take that ride to nowhere, we'll take that ride
We will continue travelling without any destination in mind.
Feeling okay this morning, and you know
We are content with our current state of being in the morning.
We're on a road to paradise, here we go, here we go
We believe this journey will lead us to a state of paradise, let's continue.
Maybe you'll wonder where you are, I don't care
You may have questions about your location, but it doesn't bother us.
Even when time is on our side, take you there, take you there
Regardless of having ample time, we will travel without a destination in mind.
There's a city in my mind, come along and take that ride, and it's all right, baby, it's all right
I have a destination in mind, join me on this journey, everything will be fine.
And it's very far away, but it's growing day by day, and it's all right, baby, it's all right
The destination is far, but it's gradually getting closer, everything will be okay.
Would you like to come along, you can help me sing this song, and it's all right, baby, it's all right
Do you want to accompany me on this journey and share the experience? It will be fine.
They can tell you what to do, but they'll make a fool of you, and it's all right, baby, it's all right
People may try to advise you, but following their instructions will make you foolish. Don't worry, everything will be fine.
We're on a road to nowhere, hey
We are continuing on this journey without a destination in mind.
We're on a road to nowhere, ha
We are travelling aimlessly without any specific objective.
We're on a road to nowhere, ha, ha
We are journeying without a particular direction in mind, it's all a bit humorous.
We're on a road to nowhere, ha, ha, whoo
We are travelling without any particular aim or objective, it's all a bit of a joke.
Contributed by Alyssa V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.