Complimented as “charmingly arrogant” by some and “hard working showmen” by… Read Full Bio ↴Complimented as “charmingly arrogant” by some and “hard working showmen” by others - The Milwaukees make music for the masses: engaging, raw and instantly approachable. Sonically they live between the Foo Fighters and the Faces, while influences like the Who and the Clash permeate the band’s explosive live sound. With their third full length, American Anthems Vol. 1, the boys from Jersey focused on writing durable songs and memorable melodies while creating an accessible collection of rock gems.

Highway to the Sun
The Milwaukees Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Highway to the sun.
Packed our bags and we set a course, its our destined westward run.
Hit the road with a dream we believe that the best is yet to come.
Take me down where the palm trees grow and the streets are paved with gold.
Its a fountain of youth we found, and the highway, it helps to keep us young.
When the city only makes you numb.

Said so long, to who we used to be

A new way of life for me.
Were shedding what youve seen.
As were driving to the sea.
As were driving to the sea.

Highway to the sun
The road is a place where we can forget where were from.
But the truth gets in the way and we wonder, are we on the road or on the run?
And the answer only makes us numb.

Said so long, to who we used to be.
Lost the forest in the trees.
Missed out on all our dreams.
But its still shining gold to me.
Its still shining gold me.

On the highway to the sun.
Back on highway 61.

Overall Meaning

The Milwaukees’s song “Highway to the Sun” is a road trip anthem that speaks to the idea of chasing dreams and pursuing a better life. The song begins with the singer packing their bags and setting out westward on a journey that they believe will lead them to the fulfillment of their ambitions. The highway acts as a symbol of youth, freshness and rejuvenation, promising to keep them young in spirit and replenish them with the breath of possibility that the city has robbed them of. The lyrics suggest a sense of restlessness, a desire to leave behind an existence that was lifeless and meaningless, and embark on a fresh start.

As the journey progresses, the song highlights the tensions inherent in any pursuit of a better life. The singer wonders whether they are merely escaping, or truly evolving. The fear of losing one’s way, or sacrificing one’s dreams in exchange for the illusion of grandeur that the highway seems to offer, looms large. At the same time, however, the lyrics capture the joy and elation that comes with the open road, with endless possibility, and the tentative acceptance of the challenges inherent in any venture of self-discovery. The song’s lyrics convey a sense of optimism and possibility, as the singer continues down that never-ending highway to the sun.

Line by Line Meaning

Highway to the sun.
We are embarking on a journey towards the sun, with high hopes and dreams for a brighter future.

Packed our bags and we set a course, its our destined westward run.
We have prepared ourselves and planned for this journey towards the west, as we believe it to be our destined path.

Hit the road with a dream we believe that the best is yet to come.
We begin our journey with the strong belief that the best is yet to come and that our dreams will eventually come true.

Take me down where the palm trees grow and the streets are paved with gold.
We yearn to reach a place that is both beautiful and prosperous, where we can live a comfortable and fulfilling life.

Its a fountain of youth we found, and the highway, it helps to keep us young.
We have discovered a place that rejuvenates us and helps us feel young again, and the highway is an integral part of reaching and maintaining that place.

When the city only makes you numb.
Living in the city can be numbing and draining, prompting us to seek out a different, more refreshing environment.

Said so long, to who we used to be
We have bid farewell to our old selves and are embracing a new way of life.

A new way of life for me.
We have chosen to live differently, with new values and goals guiding our path.

Were shedding what youve seen.
We are discarding old habits and routines, and leaving behind the things we have previously experienced.

As were driving to the sea.
We are heading towards the sea, perhaps as a symbol of freedom or a new beginning.

The road is a place where we can forget where were from.
As we travel down the road, we are able to escape our past and focus on the present and future.

But the truth gets in the way and we wonder, are we on the road or on the run?
Despite our attempts to forget our past and focus on the road ahead, we are occasionally confronted with the truth and must question whether we are truly moving forward or fleeing from something.

And the answer only makes us numb.
The answer to our questions may not provide clarity or solve our dilemmas, and instead may leave us feeling numb and uncertain.

Lost the forest in the trees.
We have become so focused on the details that we have lost sight of the bigger picture.

Missed out on all our dreams.
We have failed to fulfill our aspirations and desires, potentially due to our narrow focus on the details.

But its still shining gold to me.
Despite our setbacks and failures, we still believe that there is potential for greatness and success.

Back on highway 61.
The mention of highway 61 may indicate a return to a familiar place or a reference to another road associated with American folklore.

Contributed by Mackenzie R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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