The band released their self-titled first album in March 1995 via PopLlama Records. After they garnered massive acclaim, Columbia Records quickly signed them. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and has shipped over three million copies. The RIAA has certified it as triple platinum. Songs "Peaches", "Kitty", "Lump", and "Dune Buggy" received major airplay.
Their 1996 follow-up album, "II", did not reach the same acclaim, though it reached the top forty on the Billboard 2000. Single "Mach 5" also garnered some airplay. The band then fell of the radar for many listeners, dropped by their major label. However, their albums of the new millennium, 'Freaked Out and Small' followed by 'Love Everybody' and 'These Are the Good Times People' (released in 2000, 2004, and 2008, respectively), picked up positive critical reviews, such as from the All Music Guide. Although their touring schedule became more sporadic into the 00s and 10s, they continue to perform and satisfy audiences with their off-beat humor and catchy hooks.
5500 Miles
The Presidents of the United States of America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Across the Texas plain
Just to look at the mountains
Just to not go insane (insane, insane)
5,500 miles
Across the Texas plain
Just to look at the ocean
I'm goin' home
I'm starting home
On a freezing eastern highway
A muddy snow bank
A broken radio
A dome of stars on a tin plate
Got Booker T on cassette tape
Tore out the amplifier to fit it in
I saw the free way buckle and bend
Carburetor struck a strong head wind
And I barreled...through California!
And even on a cloudy day
And the end the sun peaks through
Between the mountains and the clouds!
Woo!
5,500 miles
Across the Texas plain
Just to look at the mountains
Just to not go insane
5,500 miles
Across the Texas plain
Just to look at the ocean
Just to not go insane
And now I'm home
I made it home
On a little four-cylinder engine
A blue tin can
A red sleepin' bag
I wasn't alone the whole way
I had some com-pan-ay
The sterring wheel made a print on my arm
I stopped and I checked out the farm
I saw the sun beat down hard
And I barreled...through California!
And even on a cloudy day
And the end the sun peaks through
Between the mountains and the clouds!
Haw!
I can't drive five thousand lonely miles!
I can't drive five thousand lonely miles!
I can't drive five thousand lonely miles!
I can't drive five thousand lonely miles!
Five thousand, five hundred miles
The song “5500 Miles” by The Presidents of the United States of America is about a long and grueling road trip taken across the state of Texas, just to reach the mountains and the ocean. The lyrics express the singer's desire to not go insane from the monotony of daily life and yearning to escape to something different. The song also emphasizes the difficulties that come with such a journey, from the freezing weather on the Eastern highway to the broken radio and the muddy snow banks.
The opening of the song describes the journey across the Texas plain, which covers 5,500 miles. The singer's motivation to take the trip was to take a break from the mundane routine and to see something new. Eventually, the singer reaches the westernmost point of Texas and looks at the mountains and the ocean, which adds a sense of accomplishment to the journey.
Throughout the song, there is a sense of urgency and a need to get through the journey despite adverse conditions. The singer had company along the way and even a cassette tape of the musician Booker T. The song ends with the singer returning home in their blue tin can and red sleeping bag, feeling fulfilled after their long journey.
Line by Line Meaning
5,500 miles across the Texas plain just to look at the mountains just to not go insane
The singer traveled a long distance just to see the mountains and escape feeling insane.
5,500 miles across the Texas plain just to look at the ocean just to not go insane
The singer traveled a long distance just to see the ocean and escape feeling insane.
I'm goin' home, I'm starting home on a freezing eastern highway, a muddy snow bank, a broken radio
The singer is starting their journey home on a cold and difficult road with a malfunctioning radio and snowy conditions.
A dome of stars on a tin plate, got Booker T on cassette tape
The artist is using a tin plate to see the stars and listening to music by Booker T on cassette tape.
Tore out the amplifier to fit it in, I saw the freeway buckle and bend, carburetor stuck, a strong head wind, and I barreled...through California!
The artist had to remove the amplifier to make it fit, and encountered difficult weather conditions and road issues, but still made it through California.
And even on a cloudy day, at the end the sun peaks through between the mountains and the clouds!
Even during difficult times, the sun still shines through and brings hope.
5,500 miles across the Texas plain just to look at the mountains just to not go insane
The singer traveled a long distance just to see the mountains and escape feeling insane.
5,500 miles across the Texas plain just to look at the ocean just to not go insane
The artist traveled a long distance just to see the ocean and escape feeling insane.
And now I'm home, I made it home on a little four-cylinder engine, a blue tin can, a red sleepin' bag
The artist made it home using a humble car with a small engine and basic supplies.
I wasn't alone the whole way, I had some com-pan-ay
The artist had companionship during the trip.
The steering wheel made a print on my arm, I stopped and I checked out the farm, I saw the sun beat down hard, and I barreled...through California!
The singer has physical reminders of the long journey, stopped to explore a farm, and still made it through California.
And even on a cloudy day, at the end the sun peaks through between the mountains and the clouds!
Even during difficult times, the sun still shines through and brings hope.
I can't drive five thousand lonely miles! I can't drive five thousand lonely miles! I can't drive five thousand lonely miles! I can't drive five thousand lonely miles!
The singer expresses that they can't handle traveling long distances alone.
Contributed by Eliana G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.