The band, whose name is derived from the bumpy Oklahoma toll-roads and their hard lived folk singing heroes, are proof that isolation can be the mother of originality. Cutting their teeth in roadside dance halls and honky-tonks has made a serious impact on the band’s musical style, which walks the line between Woody Guthrie and Waylon Jennings. “Bossier City,” the band’s debut album, is testament to the small towns in which they were raised. It combines Folk, Country, Cajun, and Bluegrass with stories of longing, humor, tragedy, and general life in rural America.
Breaking down traditional barriers between the audience and the stage is something in which they excel. Fast, gritty, and often drenched in beer, the Troubadours perform to both their fans and new audience members with an genuine sincerity about them. They continually gather ground both literally and figuratively as they travel up, down, and across the Midwest.
Their follow-up album, “Diamonds & Gasoline”, was release 2010 with veteran producer and songwriter Mike McClure and legend Joe Hardy (ZZ-Top, Steve Earle). They relentlessly play shows in Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Texas.
Evan Felker - Lead Vocals, Acoustic
R.C. Edwards - Bass, Backing Vocals
Kyle Nix - Fiddle, Backing Vocals
Ryan Engleman - Lead Guitar
Giovanni Carnuccio - Drums, Backing Vocals
Down on Washington
Turnpike Troubadours Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You Say life ain't fair
Why don't ya tell me something that I don't know
Oh and man I'm sunk
Red faced and drunk
But there's a reason I stayed up all night and begged you not to go
(Chorus)
It's an awkward occupation disregarding right from wrong.
And you were down on Washington, dancing like the devil.
Oh and I am just a fool, but I have loved you all along
Well the everyday, it gets in the way
Of all the things, that we could be
Don't ya understand, well I'm an honest man
But I would steal you in a heartbeat if the choice were up to me
(Chorus)
Well what happens little baby when I blow this town and ain't nobody like you
Got a brand new high and lonesome, It's a bad dream comin' true.
Oh what's a poor boy to do
(Chorus)
Yea well I am just a fool, but I have loved you all along.
The song "Down on Washington" by Turnpike Troubadours is a tale of a man deeply in love with his partner, who is out partying and dancing on Washington. The singer is drunk and embarrassed, but he knows that he has loved his partner all along, even in this sticky situation. He confesses his love for her, but at the same time recognizes that he can't compete with the hedonistic lifestyle that his partner seems to enjoy.
The first verse exemplifies the internal conflict of the singer- he recognizes that life is unfair, but he can't help but hope to reconcile with his lover. The chorus highlights the irony of the situation- the singer is torn between the right and wrong, while the love of his life dances like the devil on Washington. The second verse indicates that the singer is willing to bend his moral compass to be with his lover, but he is an honest man who can't help but fall deeper in love with her. The final verse shows resignation and despair as he contemplates a time when he might have to leave town and part with his love.
Overall, "Down on Washington" is a powerful story of love and temptation, where the singer is tested but ultimately stays faithful to his heart.
Line by Line Meaning
Well you're standing there
The singer notices the listener in front of them.
You Say life ain't fair
The listener mentions life being unjust or unfair.
Why don't ya tell me something that I don't know
The singer is requesting new information from the listener instead of hearing the same thing again.
Oh and man I'm sunk
The artist is expressing a feeling of being helpless or defeated.
Red faced and drunk
The artist is intoxicated and potentially embarrassed by their actions/actions of others.
But there's a reason I stayed up all night and begged you not to go
The singer recently asked the listener not to leave and now shares why they made that plea.
Here I fear we've found ourselves a sticky situation.
The singer acknowledges their current predicament is complicated and problematic.
It's an awkward occupation disregarding right from wrong.
The artist doesn't want to consider ethical or moral boundaries, which makes them uncomfortable.
And you were down on Washington, dancing like the devil.
The artist remembers a specific event with the listener, potentially unbecoming, in a given location.
Oh and I am just a fool, but I have loved you all along
The artist admits to being a fool but affirms their feelings for the listener.
Well the everyday, it gets in the way
The singer expresses how routine or mundane aspects of life can be barriers to achieving their desires.
Of all the things that we could be
The artist envisions all the possibilities of what their relationship could become.
Don't ya understand, well I'm an honest man
The singer emphasizes their honesty in this situation.
But I would steal you in a heartbeat if the choice were up to me
The singer confesses they would act unethically or wrongly to be with the listener.
Well what happens little baby when I blow this town and ain't nobody like you
The singer poses a hypothetical question about what would happen to the listener if they left town.
Got a brand new high and lonesome, It's a bad dream comin' true.
The artist may feel regretful, as if their emotional state without the listener is a terrible reality.
Oh what's a poor boy to do
The artist is expressing a helpless or hopeless feeling.
Yea well I am just a fool, but I have loved you all along.
Repeating the idea from a prior chorus, that they admit to being foolish yet emphasize their love for the listener.
Contributed by Jeremiah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stuart
The song is literally about the drunk narrator falling in love with a stripper/prostitute... No more depth than that. "Awkward occupation", "steal you... if the choice were up to me", "what's a poor boy to do?" The effort is appreciated though!