Walk A Lonely Road
The Magnetic Fields Lyrics


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When I was a little boy
Way out in the the wood
I had neither friend nor toy
Never knew I could
When I found this lonely road
Off I walked for good
When I was a little boy
Way out in the wood

Walk a lonely road with me
I will walk with you
Half as lonely we will be
When we walk as two
If the road goes straight uphill
We'll admire the view
Walk a lonely road with me
I will walk with you

When I was a little girl
On the lonesome plain
I had neither pal nor pearl
Mostly wind and rain
One day I set out along
A little winding lane




When I was a little girl
On the lonesome plain

Overall Meaning

The Magnetic Fields's song "Walk A Lonely Road" is a melancholic reflection on the loneliness that can accompany us throughout our lives. The lyrics convey a sense of isolation, from the singer's youth spent in the woods without friends or toys, to the young girl on the lonesome plain with nothing but wind and rain. The chorus, "Walk a lonely road with me, I will walk with you. Half as lonely we will be when we walk as two," offers a glimmer of hope that perhaps by joining forces, these individuals can ease their solitude. Even if the path is "straight uphill," the companionship will make the journey more bearable.


The repetition of the opening lines and phrases emphasizes the cyclical nature of loneliness and the difficulty of breaking free from it. The use of the childlike imagery of the woods and the plain as well as the simple language of the lyrics adds to the sense of innocence lost to loneliness. Overall, the song evokes a longing for connection and a desire to wander together on the lonely road of life.


Line by Line Meaning

When I was a little boy
As a child, in my youth


Way out in the wood
I was living in a remote area surrounded by trees and nature


I had neither friend nor toy
I had no companions or toys to entertain myself with


Never knew I could
I was unaware that I could desire such things


When I found this lonely road
When I discovered a solitary path


Off I walked for good
I decided to venture along it and never look back


Walk a lonely road with me
Join me on this journey with no one else accompanying us


I will walk with you
I will be your companion


Half as lonely we will be
Although we will still be alone, our loneliness will be lessened by each other's presence


When we walk as two
When we journey together


If the road goes straight uphill
If the path we take becomes difficult and challenging


We'll admire the view
We will still appreciate the beauty and wonder around us


When I was a little girl
As a young girl


On the lonesome plain
In an isolated, barren area


I had neither pal nor pearl
I had no friends or valuable possessions


Mostly wind and rain
The main elements I encountered were harsh weather conditions


One day I set out along
One day, I embarked on a journey


A little winding lane
A small, twisting path




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: STEPHIN RAYMOND MERRITT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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