Meet The Stanfields, a maelstrom of rock and roll, bluegrass, celtic and bl… Read Full Bio ↴Meet The Stanfields, a maelstrom of rock and roll, bluegrass, celtic and blues. Hailing from the gritty post-industrial towns of Nova Scotia, The Stanfields play every show like it's their collective last night on earth. Their kitchen party harmonies, thunderous rhythm section, high octane stage show and genuine chemistry have won over audiences clear across their tiny corner of the world.

The Road to Guysborough
The Stanfields Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was headed back home on the Merland Road
With my head in the clouds one night
Taking each step with the beat of my heart
Guided by the pale moonlight
I was whistling along with the loons on the lake
And thinking 'bout making my plan
Next thing you know, I'm suckin' on the knuckles
Of a swindling highwayman

Well I'll take my rifle, take my pistol
I'll take what I can
No, I'll never walk the road to Guysborough alone again

He had a Colt 45 a-swingin' on his hip
And a blackjack in his hand
He had a bucktooth grin, a great big chin
A limp and a silk armband
He said,"Fella don't you know there's trouble in the woods
And the trouble in the woods is I?
Gimme your gold, gimme your liquor
I'll think about letting you by"

Well I'll take my rifle, take my pistol
I'll take what I can
No, I'll never walk the road to Guysborough alone again

Well I hit him with the left and the right, alright
With fists like cannonballs
He turned on a dime and he ran with a shriek
That echoed off the Intervale walls
I ain't proud of what I did, but I did what I did
'Cause I couldn't miss my chance
To take Hopey for a spin on the sawdust floor
At Favaro's wedding dance

Well I'll take my rifle, take my pistol
I'll take what I can
No, I'll never walk the road to Guysborough alone again

Well I'll take my rifle, take my pistol

I'll take what I can
No, I'll never walk the road to Guysborough alone again

Overall Meaning

"The Road to Guysborough" by The Stanfields tells the story of a man's journey on the Merland Road, a route that leads to the small town of Guysborough. The singer is a simple man, enjoying the natural surroundings and whistling along with the loons on the lake. However, his peaceful reverie is interrupted when he encounters a swindling highwayman who demands his gold and liquor.

With no other choice, the man engages in a physical confrontation with the highwayman before ultimately defeating him. The story takes a slightly humorous turn as the man decides to use his newfound confidence to impress a woman, Hopey, at a wedding dance. The song ends with the singer stating that he will never walk the road to Guysborough alone again, suggesting that he has gained some valuable experience and confidence from the encounter.

Overall, the lyrics explore themes of vulnerability, self-empowerment, and the importance of standing up for oneself in the face of injustice. The narrative is told through a combination of poetic imagery and colloquial language, giving the song a distinctly Canadian feel.

Line by Line Meaning

I was headed back home on the Merland Road
I was travelling towards my home on the Merland Road

With my head in the clouds one night
I was lost in thought one night

Taking each step with the beat of my heart
I was moving forward with enthusiasm

Guided by the pale moonlight
The moonlight was helping me see my way

I was whistling along with the loons on the lake
I was enjoying the company of nature

And thinking 'bout making my plan
I was contemplating my next steps

Next thing you know, I'm suckin' on the knuckles
Suddenly, I was attacked by a robber

Of a swindling highwayman
The robber was trying to cheat me

Well I'll take my rifle, take my pistol
I will defend myself with whatever weapons I have

I'll take what I can
I will take whatever I need to survive

No, I'll never walk the road to Guysborough alone again
I won't travel the road to Guysborough by myself again

He had a Colt 45 a-swingin' on his hip
The robber was carrying a Colt 45 gun

And a blackjack in his hand
The robber also had a blackjack weapon

He said,"Fella don't you know there's trouble in the woods
The robber warned of danger lurking in the nearby forest

And the trouble in the woods is I?
The robber is claiming to be the source of the danger in the woods

Gimme your gold, gimme your liquor
The robber demanded the traveler's valuables

I'll think about letting you by"
The robber suggested he may let the traveler go if he complied with the demand

Well I hit him with the left and the right, alright
The traveler fought back against the robber with punches

With fists like cannonballs
The traveler's punches were powerful

He turned on a dime and he ran with a shriek
The robber quickly fled the scene

That echoed off the Intervale walls
The robber's shriek was loud and echoed through the nearby Intervale walls

I ain't proud of what I did, but I did what I did
The traveler had mixed feelings about fighting the robber

'Cause I couldn't miss my chance
The traveler didn't want to pass up a potential opportunity

To take Hopey for a spin on the sawdust floor
The traveler wanted to dance with Hopey on the sawdust floor at Favaro's wedding

At Favaro's wedding dance
The traveler wanted to dance at Favaro's wedding celebration

Lyrics © Seegang Musik, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Craig Eugene Harris, Jason MacIsaac, Jonathan Landry, Mark Todd Murphy, William Jason Wright

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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