The Lower Road
Thea Gilmore Lyrics
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Bury this rosary
Somewhere out of town
Somewhere out by the sea
And take this ring
Give it to Emily
Tell her I'm peaceful now
Tell her I've been released
I will be rolling on
I will be rolling on
Well I know that drill
I know it all too well
It starts like a lonely voice
And shifts to a tolling bell
Like rain on the dusty ground
Small bones in the driest well
The spark breeds a fiery tongue
And the tongues kiss the cheek of Hell
And I will be rolling on
I will be rolling on
I have had my part to play
Now I am going home
There's no telling which way, boys
This thing is going to take hold
From the fruit on a poplar tree
To the bruise round a band of gold
From the blood in a far country
To the war of just growing old
We travel a lower road
And it's lonely and it is cold
But we will be rolling on
We will be rolling on
We've had our part to play
Now we are going home
We will keep rolling on
We will keep rolling on
‘Cause for every midnight hour
There's always a rising sun
Thea Gilmore's song "The Lower Road" is about accepting one's fate in a world that can be cruel and unforgiving. The singer recognizes that they have made mistakes and have caused their own pain, but they are ready to move on and accept their fate. The lyrics suggest a feeling of acceptance and peace that comes with surrendering to our circumstances, no matter how difficult they may be.
The first verse describes the singer's desire for a final resting place somewhere by the sea, where they can let go of their burdens and be at peace. They request that their rosary be buried with them, which symbolizes a hope for forgiveness and a connection to a higher power. The singer then gives away their ring and asks that it be given to someone named Emily, indicating a desire for closure and a hope that those who loved them will find comfort in their passing.
The second verse reflects on the struggle of life and how it can lead us down a difficult path. The lyrics reference the tolling bell as a reminder of the inevitability of death, and the fiery tongue of hell that suggests the singer is wrestling with their own conscience. They acknowledge that they have had their part to play in the world and are now ready to move on to whatever comes next.
The final verse is the most optimistic, suggesting that despite the difficulties of life, there is always hope for a better tomorrow. The lyrics reference the rising sun as a symbol of new beginnings and indicate that no matter how difficult the road may be, we will keep rolling on towards a brighter future.
Line by Line Meaning
Cut me down
Remove me from my current situation
Bury this rosary
Discard this religious symbol for me
Somewhere out of town
Far away from this place
Somewhere out by the sea
Near the calming presence of the sea
And take this ring
Remove this symbol of love from me
Give it to Emily
Pass it on to someone I care about
Tell her I'm peaceful now
Let her know I'm at peace with myself
Tell her I've been released
Tell her I'm no longer bound by anything
I will be rolling on
I will keep moving forward
Well I know that drill
I'm familiar with this situation
I know it all too well
I have experienced it many times before
It starts like a lonely voice
It begins with a feeling of isolation
And shifts to a tolling bell
Then it becomes a sign of impending doom
Like rain on the dusty ground
It falls on barren land
Small bones in the driest well
It affects even the smallest and weakest things
The spark breeds a fiery tongue
A small idea can ignite strong emotions
And the tongues kiss the cheek of Hell
Those emotions lead to a dark path
I have had my part to play
I've done what I needed to do
Now I am going home
Now I'm leaving this place behind
There's no telling which way, boys
I don't know what will happen next
This thing is going to take hold
Things are going to change
From the fruit on a poplar tree
From the very beginning of something new
To the bruise round a band of gold
Being hurt by love and commitment
From the blood in a far country
From far and distant places of conflict
To the war of just growing old
To the struggles of aging
We travel a lower road
We take a difficult path
And it's lonely and it is cold
It's a path with little support or comfort
But we will be rolling on
We will keep moving forward
‘Cause for every midnight hour
Because with every difficult time
There's always a rising sun
There is hope for a brighter future
Contributed by Avery J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Pieter Meulendijks
One of my great favourites, Thea Gilmore. Beautiful track of an great album.
Arthur Thomas
Beautiful voice - marvelous singing style!
michaela a. gabriel
oh this song. this song. no matter how often i listen to it, it gives me goosebumps. in the best possible way.
adandap
Yes. What you said.
Sirens Meadow
+michaela a. gabriel Yes , Michaela - I feel the same about it ... You are not related with Peter Gabriel, are You ?
Lenah J
Lovely! Thanks for uploading!
adandap
Agree with the other comments here, but someone needs to give Joan Baez a shout out for her contribution. That's her in the second verse and on harmony.
Nigel Croft
Surely not. . . . who knew!!
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THEA GILMORE The Lower Road
Richard Severn
Erm this is from her 2008 album "Liejacker"