The album was re-released on Smithsonian Folkways on CD in 1990 with additional tracks from the 1970s.
Down the Road
The Doc Watson Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got a sugar baby down the road.
Down the road a mile and a half
I swapped my horse for a cow and calf.
Down and road, across by the shop,
My old hat's got a hole in the top.
Down the road till you come to the turn,
The Doc Watson Family's song "Down the Road" is a simple yet catchy tune that tells the story of a man and his journey down the road. The song starts with the man singing about his sugar baby down the road, indicating that he has someone special waiting for him down the road. As he continues to travel down the road, he trades his horse for a cow and calf, and eventually reaches a point where his hat has a hole in it. Despite these setbacks, he continues to journey down the road.
As he nears the turn of the road, he encounters some large rocks that obstruct his path. This last obstacle could be interpreted as a metaphor for the challenges and obstacles that one encounters in life. However, the man presses on, indicating a determination to overcome these obstacles and reach his destination. Overall, the song presents a message of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Down the road, down the road,
I am journeying ahead towards a destination, further and further.
I've got a sugar baby down the road.
I have a lover who resides down the path I travel on.
Down the road a mile and a half
At a distance of one and a half miles on this path I traverse,
I swapped my horse for a cow and calf.
I made an exchange transaction of my transportation animal for a cow and her baby.
Down and road, across by the shop,
As I make my way along this route, past the store nearby,
My old hat's got a hole in the top.
My aged head covering has a perforation at its apex.
Down the road till you come to the turn,
Follow this lane till you encounter the bend,
Rocks in the road as big as a churn.
Boulders of significant size obstruct the path I travel on.
Contributed by Alex L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.