On And On
The Bell Lyrics
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I'm so lonesome I could cry
Memories of how we once loved each other
And now we are saying good-bye.
On and on I'll follow my darling
And I wonder where she can be
On and on I'll follow my darling
I've cried I've cried for you little darling
It breaks my heart to hear your name
My friends they also love you my darling
And they think that I am to blame.
I have to follow you my darling
I can't sleep when the sun goes down
By your side is my destination
The road is clear and that's where I'm bound.
The Bell's song "On and On" is a poignant representation of heartbreak and the longing that comes with missing someone you once loved deeply. The first two lines, "Traveling down this long lonesome highway / I'm so lonesome I could cry," establishes the mood and tone of the song right away - one of melancholy and sorrow. The singer is reflecting on memories of a past relationship, and how he and his former partner once loved each other so deeply. Now, they are parting ways, and the singer is left with nothing but sadness and the feeling of being lost without his beloved.
Despite the overwhelming sadness, the singer is unable to let go and continues to follow his former partner, even though he doesn't know where she is or whether she thinks of him. He cries for her, and his friends also love her, but they blame the singer for the relationship falling apart. The singer, as expressed in the lines "I have to follow you my darling / I can't sleep when the sun goes down / By your side is my destination / The road is clear and that's where I'm bound," is determined to find his way back to his lost love. The road ahead may be long and uncertain, but he feels that his ultimate destination is by her side.
Line by Line Meaning
Traveling down this long lonesome highway
I feel lost and alone on this never-ending road
I'm so lonesome I could cry
The sadness of being separated from my loved one is so intense it's almost unbearable
Memories of how we once loved each other
I can't help but recall the beauty of our love in the past
And now we are saying good-bye.
Now our relationship is ending, and it's difficult to accept
On and on I'll follow my darling
I'll travel any distance to be with the one I love
And I wonder where she can be
I'm unsure of where my loved one is and it makes me anxious
On and on I'll follow my darling
No matter how far she goes, I'll persist in following
And I wonder if she ever thinks of me.
I can't help but ponder if my loved one still remembers me
I've cried I've cried for you little darling
I shed tears in longing for you, my beloved
It breaks my heart to hear your name
Even the sound of your name causes me pain since I'm not with you
My friends they also love you my darling
Even my friends recognize how special you are and how much I love you
And they think that I am to blame.
They place the burden of our separation on me
I have to follow you my darling
My love for you is so strong that it compels me to chase after you
I can't sleep when the sun goes down
My longing for you is so strong that it keeps me from resting at night
By your side is my destination
My one desire in life is to be with you, and I'll keep pursuing it tirelessly
The road is clear and that's where I'm bound.
I see nothing ahead of me except for the journey to be reunited with my beloved, and I won't let anything stand in my way
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BILL MONROE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind