The Iron Wheel
The Nightwatchman Lyrics


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Sometimes they'll tell you to just sit still
When you know that it's time to run
Sometimes they'll tell you it's all over
When you're sure that it's just begun

The iron wheel slowly spins around
It takes you from the cradle
'Til you're six feet underground
You can push and pull against it
But you'll ride it 'til it's through
And those who spin the wheel
Well those fuckers ride it too

Sometimes they'll tell you to move along
When you're sure you should stand and fight
Sometimes they'll tell you you're a lucky man
But the numbers they don't add up right

The iron wheel slowly spins around
It takes you from the cradle
'Til you're six feet underground
You can push and pull against it
But you'll ride it 'til it's through
And those who spin the wheel
Well those fuckers ride it too

The good wife rides the wheel
As the years just slip away
T.V. preacher rides the wheel
As he leads the flock astray
Lady Justice rides the wheel
But her balance is unsure
Cause the truth it lies in pieces
Scattered on the newsroom floor

Sometimes they'll tell you to just let go
When you're sure you should hold on tight
Sometimes they'll tell you your time
Will never come
When you're sure that your time's come tonight

The iron wheel slowly spins around
It takes you from the cradle
'Til you're six feet underground
You can push and pull against it
But you'll ride it 'til it's through




And those who spin the wheel
Well those fuckers ride it too

Overall Meaning

The Nightwatchman feat. Shooter Jennings's song The Iron Wheel talks about the cycle of life and how people are often told what they can or cannot do but ultimately have to ride through life until the end. The lyrics suggest that people will be faced with obstacles and challenges, but the idea is to push and pull against them and take charge of your own life. The lines, "Sometimes they'll tell you to just sit still, When you know that it's time to run, Sometimes they'll tell you it's all over, When you're sure that it's just begun" indicate that people are often discouraged from taking risks but they should trust their instincts and take control.


The Iron Wheel represents the cycle of life that begins from the cradle and ends at the grave, and no one can escape it. Even those who are in positions of power and control are also riding the wheel, despite how they pretend to be in command. The lyrics emphasize that people should not allow themselves to be manipulated by external influences and should resist when someone attempts to discourage or control them. Ultimately, once we ride through life, history and truth are left in pieces that scatter on a newsroom floor, and everything spins around like an iron wheel.


Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes they'll tell you to just sit still
People may advise you to do nothing when you feel the urge to move forward


When you know that it's time to run
But you're convinced that you need to act fast and flee from the situation


Sometimes they'll tell you it's all over
At times, others might declare that everything has ended


When you're sure that it's just begun
Even though you know deep down that the journey has only just started


The iron wheel slowly spins around
The unstoppable force of time moves inevitably forward


It takes you from the cradle
Starting from birth, time carries you through life


‘Til you're six feet underground
Until your body is buried in a grave


You can push and pull against it
You can try to resist the passage of time


But you'll ride it 'til it's through
But ultimately, time will have its way with you


And those who spin the wheel
The same is true for those who are in power and control the movements of time


Well those fuckers ride it too
They will also ultimately succumb to the effects of time


The good wife rides the wheel
Even the virtuous and loyal spouse is subject to the power of time


As the years just slip away
As time passes by, the spouse's youth and vitality fade


T.V. preacher rides the wheel
Similarly, religious leaders who manipulate their followers also cannot escape the power of time


As he leads the flock astray
Their shameful actions will eventually catch up with them


Lady Justice rides the wheel
Even justice is at the mercy of time


But her balance is unsure
The scales of justice can be influenced by external factors and manipulation


Cause the truth it lies in pieces
The truth is fragmented and distorted by the media and other powerful forces


Scattered on the newsroom floor
The media plays a role in shaping the truth and influencing public perception


Sometimes they'll tell you to just let go
Others may advise you to give up and let things take their course


When you're sure you should hold on tight
But you are convinced that you need to hold on tight and never let go


Sometimes they'll tell you your time
Others may try to convince you that your time has not yet come


Will never come
And that you will never have the opportunity to achieve your goals


When you're sure that your time's come tonight
But you know deep down that the moment you have been waiting for has finally arrived




Contributed by Violet Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Jeffd34006

And those who spin the wheel........

Mikkel Thybo

Jeffd34006 We're all just people and we don't treat each other with dignity most of the time.

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