Rush is considered a gifted musician and performer whose shows offer a musical celebration. His distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm, expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world. His shows are filled with the rib-aching laughter of terrific story-telling, the sweet melancholy of ballads and the passion of gritty blues.
Rush's impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the '60s and the renaissance of the '80s and '90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, "Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences." Country music star Garth Brooks has credited Rush with being one of his top five musical influences. Rush has long championed emerging artists. His early recordings introduced the world to the work of Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne and James Taylor, and in more recent years his Club 47 concerts have brought artists such as Nanci Griffith and Shawn Colvin to wider audiences when they were just beginning to build their own reputations.
Rush began his musical career in the early '60s playing the Boston-area clubs while a Harvard student. The Club 47 was the flagship of the coffee house fleet, and he was soon holding down a weekly spot there, learning from the legendary artists who came to play, honing his skills and growing into his talent. He had released two albums by the time he graduated.
Rush displayed then, as he does today, an uncanny knack for finding wonderful songs, and writing his own - many of which have become classics re-interpreted by new generations. (It is testimony to the universality of his appeal that his songs have been folk hits, country hits, heavy metal and rap hits.) Signed by Elektra in 1965, Rush made three albums for them, culminating in The Circle Game, which, according to Rolling Stone, ushered in the singer/songwriter era.
In the early '70s, folk turned to folk-rock, and Rush, ever adaptable, saw more room to stretch out. Recording now for Columbia, he toured tirelessly with a five man band, playing concerts across the country. Endless promotional tours, interviews, television appearances, and recording sessions added up to five very successful but exhausting years, after which Tom decided to take a break and "recharge" his creative side at his New Hampshire farm.
Rush returned with a splash in 1981, selling out Boston's prestigious Symphony Hall in advance. Time off had not only rekindled Rush's love of music, it had re-ignited music audiences' love of Rush's music.
He instinctively knew that his listeners were interested in both the old and the new, and set out to create a musical forum - like the Club 47 of the early '60s - to allow established artists and newcomers to share the same stage. In 1982, he tried it out at Symphony Hall. The show was such a hit it became an annual event, growing to fill two, then three nights, and the Club 47 series was born. Crafting concerts that combined well known artists such as Bonnie Raitt or Emmylou Harris with (then) unknowns like Alison Krauss or Mark O' Connor, Rush took the show on the road. From the '80s to the present day, Club 47 events have filled the nation's finest halls to rave reviews, and have been broadcast as national specials on PBS and NPR.
In 1999, Columbia/Legacy released a Tom Rush retrospective album that covered his recorded musical history from 1962 to the present, including tracks recorded for Columbia, Elektra, Prestige and his independent years. Entitled "The Very Best of Tom Rush: No Regrets", the 17-track compilation includes as a bonus a brand new Tom Rush composition, "River Song," which features vocal contributions from Grammy winners Shawn Colvin and Marc Cohn.
A live CD, "Trolling for Owls" released in 2003 and published by Tom's NIGHTLIGHT RECORDINGS, captures a complete performance and includes, for the first time, some of the spoken stories that have endeared him to audiences.
In 2018, at age 79, he released the album "Voices".
on the road again
Tom Rush Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Said goodbye to Boston town
Mass turnpike to Route 15
Take me on down to the New York scene
Thummin' of the tires it sure is pretty
Thinkin' 'bout the wimmin' in New York City.
And Hey!, I'm on the road again
And Hey!, I'm on the road again.
Take the Harlem Tunnel to the Jersey Pike
And roll through Philly, in the middle of the night
Hey!, I'm on the road again
Hey!, I'm on the road again
Hey!, I'm on the road again.
I went downtown DC,runnin' all around town
Tryin' to find a little lady, she hit me when I'm down
Nobody answers, aint anybody home
Gotta grab me a cab, get to Baltimore
She got great long hair and big ole smile
And great long legs that drive me wild
And hey! I'm on the road again.
Tom Rush's song "On the Road Again" expresses the joy and excitement of going on a road trip to escape one's mundane life. The song begins with the singer locking his doors and saying goodbye to Boston town as he takes the Massachusetts Turnpike to Route 15, which will take him to the New York scene. The sound of the tires is pleasing, but his thoughts are on the women he will meet in New York City. The chorus of "Hey!, I'm on the road again" reflects the carefree and spontaneous spirit of the singer's journey.
In the second verse, the singer takes the Harlem Tunnel to the Jersey Pike and drives through Philadelphia in the middle of the night. He then goes to downtown DC and runs all around trying to find a little lady to lift up his spirits. However, he has no luck with finding someone to connect with in DC, so he decides to grab a cab and go to Baltimore. In Baltimore, he meets a lady with great long hair, a big ole smile, and great long legs that drive him wild. He is excited to be on the road again with this new and exciting companion.
"On the Road Again" captures the promise of new beginnings and the sense of freedom that one can feel away from home. It's about the thrill of traveling and the sense of adventure that comes with being on the move. The singer isn't just traveling to a new place; he's also looking for a new connection with someone special, and this gives the song a hopeful tone.
Line by Line Meaning
I locked my doors, the sun went down
As the sun set, I secured my vehicle.
Said goodbye to Boston town
I bade farewell to the city of Boston.
Mass turnpike to Route 15
I traveled from Mass turnpike to Route 15.
Take me on down to the New York scene
I desire to travel to the vibrant New York City.
Thummin' of the tires it sure is pretty
The sound of the tires hitting the ground creates a pleasing rhythm.
Thinkin' 'bout the wimmin' in New York City.
I am contemplating the attractive women I will encounter in the city.
And Hey!, I'm on the road again
I am thrilled to be traveling once again.
Take the Harlem Tunnel to the Jersey Pike
I am planning to take the Harlem Tunnel to the Jersey Pike.
And roll through Philly, in the middle of the night
I will drive through Philadelphia late at night.
Hey!, I'm on the road again
I am excited to be on the road once more.
I went downtown DC, runnin' all around town
I explored Washington D.C. in detail.
Tryin' to find a little lady, she hit me when I'm down
I was seeking a female companion but was rejected.
Nobody answers, aint anybody home
No one was available to assist me.
Gotta grab me a cab, get to Baltimore
I must hail a cab and travel to Baltimore.
She got great long hair and big ole smile
The woman I met has stunning long hair and a beautiful smile.
And great long legs that drive me wild
Her long legs are incredibly attractive and I cannot resist them.
And hey! I'm on the road again.
I am once again pleased and excited to be travelling.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Willie Nelson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind