On September 5, 2012, they announced a reunion show that was held at Bluegrass First Class in Asheville, NC, on February 16, 2013. This event reunited The Bluegrass Album Band with their former manager and promoter, Milton Harkey.
Down The Road
The Bluegrass Album Band Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lives a little girl named Pearly Blue
About so high and her hair is brown
The Prettiest thing boys in this town
Now anytime you want to know
Where I'm going, down the road
Get my girl on the line
Now everyday and Sunday too
I go to see my Pearly Blue
Before you hear that rooster crow
You'll see me headed down the road
Now old man Flatt he owned the farm
From the hog lot to the barn
From the barn to the rail
He made his living by carrying the mail
Now every time I get the blues
I walk the soles right off my shoes
I don't know why I love her so
That gal of mine lives down the road
Repeat First then Last
The Bluegrass Album Band's "Down The Road" tells the tale of a young man who lives in a town somewhere in the American South. He shares with the listener that just a mile or two "down the road" lives a young girl named Pearly Blue, who is the prettiest thing in town. Anytime the listener would want to know where the young man is, all they need to do is "get [his] girl on the line," and they will find him. Every day, including Sunday, the young man goes to see Pearly Blue, and he is always on his way before the rooster crows.
The song's chorus is as intriguing as the opening verse: "Now every time I get the blues, I walk the soles right off my shoes. I don't know why I love her so, that gal of mine lives down the road." The lyrics are simple and largely unadorned, but they evoke a powerful sense of romance, longing and affection for Pearly Blue. The young man doesn't know why he loves her so, but he loves her enough that he walks the soles of his shoes down to nubs.
In this song, The Bluegrass Album Band transport their listeners back to a simpler, more bucolic time when people walked everywhere, and the only means of communication was a telephone line. The song also reflects the timelessness of love and the beauty of small-town life. Bluegrass music has a particular flavor, and "Down The Road" is an exemplary piece that showcases the genre's appeal.
Line by Line Meaning
Now down the road just a mile or two
The singer is referring to a location that is not too far away.
Lives a little girl named Pearly Blue
Here, the girl Pearly Blue is introduced as a resident of the area.
About so high and her hair is brown
This line describes what Pearly Blue looks like.
The Prettiest thing boys in this town
The artist thinks Pearly Blue is the most attractive girl in town.
Now anytime you want to know
The artist is offering a way to locate them.
Where I'm going, down the road
The singer is often heading down the road.
Get my girl on the line
The singer's love interest is often available by phone.
You'll find me there most any old time
The artist can often be found in Pearly Blue's vicinity.
Now everyday and Sunday too
The artist visits Pearly Blue frequently, regardless of the day.
I go to see my Pearly Blue
Here the artist reveals the reason for their frequent trips down the road.
Before you hear that rooster crow
The singer is an early riser and usually visits Pearly Blue before sunrise.
You'll see me headed down the road
The artist frequently travels down the road to visit Pearly Blue.
Now old man Flatt he owned the farm
Here, the singer introduces another character in the song, Old Man Flatt.
From the hog lot to the barn
The singer describes the size of Old Man Flatt's farm.
From the barn to the rail
Old Man Flatt made his livelihood by transporting mail.
He made his living by carrying the mail
Here, the artist states that Old Man Flatt was a mail carrier.
Now every time I get the blues
The artist often feels disheartened.
I walk the soles right off my shoes
The singer often paces, wearing out the soles of their shoes.
I don't know why I love her so
The singer is unclear about why they are so deeply in love with Pearly Blue.
That gal of mine lives down the road
The artist's love interest, Pearly Blue, lives nearby.
Repeat First then Last
The song ends by repeating the first and last verses.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jimmy H. Martin, Paul M. Williams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind