Honky Tonk
Walter Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Head's in the game when I go to sleep at night
I always get some kind of warning
Tells me when to flee or fight
Never seriously thought that I'd be singing
The blues in a honky tonk land
But take a look at me now, some way some how
I'm singing blues long and loud
I'm singing blues loud and long
In this honky tonk song
I've had jewels in my past
And I miss them
I have a diamond on my arm
Wrapped in silver
I used to work the track
In no hurry to go back
I like to think I've done my time in stone
I like to think I've done my time in stone
But take a look right at me now
Some way some how
I'm singing blues long and loud
To this honky tonk crowd
Round after round
I'm singing blues loud and long
In this honky tonk song
Here I am again
A tragedy waiting in the wings
Waiting for what tomorrow brings
Don't speak of pointless things
Here I go again
Reaching for my only friend
And calling for my blues again
Calling on my blues again
But take a look right at me now
Some way some how
I'm singing blues long and loud
To this honky tonk crowd
Round after round
I'm singing blues loud and long
In this honky tonk song
The lyrics to Walter's song Honky Tonk depict a person who never thought they would end up singing the blues in a honky tonk bar, yet here they are. They describe how they are always alert and ready to either flee or fight, and that they long for the jewels of their past, represented by a diamond on their arm wrapped in silver. Despite having left a life of working the track, they still feel like they have done their time in stone. The song ends with the singer admitting that they are constantly reaching for their "only friend" - the blues - to sing long and loud to the honky tonk crowd.
The lyrics paint a picture of someone who has been through a lot, and has come out on the other side singing the blues. The honky tonk bar setting provides the perfect backdrop for this, as it is often associated with hard times and struggles. The singer is no longer running from their past, but instead embracing it and using their experiences to connect with others through their music. The mention of them always being on the ball and getting a warning before having to flee or fight could also be interpreted as them being constantly vigilant and wary of danger, perhaps due to past experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm on the ball when I wake up in the morning
I am alert and focused every morning when I wake up
Head's in the game when I go to sleep at night
Even before I go to bed, I prepare myself for tomorrow's challenges
I always get some kind of warning
I am intuitive and able to sense danger ahead of time
Tells me when to flee or fight
This intuition helps me to determine when I should run away or stand my ground
Never seriously thought that I'd be singing
I never imagined myself as a musician
The blues in a honky tonk land
Especially not performing the blues in a honky tonk bar
But take a look at me now, some way some how
However, here I am today, doing just that
I'm singing blues long and loud
I am performing the blues with passion and intensity
To this honky tonk crowd
And the audience is fully immersed in my performance
I've had jewels in my past
I have enjoyed great wealth and prosperity in my previous life
And I miss them
However, I sometimes long for those days
I have a diamond on my arm
Currently, I enjoy some level of wealth and status
Wrapped in silver
This diamond is enshrined in silver, adding to its value
I used to work the track
I used to make a living through illegal activities like horse-racing bets
In no hurry to go back
I have no desire to return to that lifestyle
I like to think I've done my time in stone
I believe that I have paid my dues and earned the right to a better life
Here I am again
Despite my past and my current status, I find myself once again in a difficult situation
A tragedy waiting in the wings
I am afraid that there may be a worse fate waiting for me in the future
Waiting for what tomorrow brings
I am unsure of what tomorrow holds for me
Don't speak of pointless things
I don't want to hear empty words of encouragement or false hope
Reaching for my only friend
In these times of trouble, my only consolation is my music
And calling for my blues again
I am searching for inspiration, turning to the blues for emotional release
Round after round
Performing song after song
I'm singing blues loud and long
Pouring out my pain and soul into every note
In this honky tonk song
Expressing my emotions through a genre that is both raw and relatable
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Snowden Walters
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind