on the road again
Walter Trout and Canned Heat Lyrics


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Well, I'm so tired of crying
But I'm out on the road again
I'm on the road again
Well, I'm so tired of crying
But I'm out on the road again
I'm on the road again
I ain't got no woman
Just to call my special friend

You know the first time I traveled
Out in the rain and snow
In the rain and snow
You know the first time I traveled
Out in the rain and snow
In the rain and snow
I didn't have no payroll
Not even no place to go

And my dear mother left me
When I was quite young
When I was quite young
And my dear mother left me
When I was quite young
When I was quite young
She said "Lord, have mercy
On my wicked son"

Take a hint from me, mama
Please don't you cry no more
Don't you cry no more
Take a hint from me, mama
Please don't you cry no more
Don't you cry no more
'Cause it's soon one morning
Down the road I'm going

But I ain't going down
That long old lonesome road
All by myself
But I ain't going down
That long old lonesome road
All by myself




I can't carry you, baby
Gonna carry somebody else

Overall Meaning

Walter Trout and Canned Heat's song "On the Road Again" is a blues-infused rock anthem that speaks of the endless journey of a musician on the road. The song starts with the line "Well, I'm so tired of crying, but I'm out on the road again,” which is indicative of the performer's constant travels and travails. He's away from home, and his special friend, possibly a lover, with no payroll or place to go, and he's constantly facing challenges that induce tears. The song reflects the life of a touring musician, but it also speaks of the performer's innate desire to keep moving, keep singing, and keep inspiring.


The second verse of the song presents a picture of a performer's initial struggle, the rain and the snow, and the lack of financial stability, and it takes us into the past life of the singer. The singer's mother had abandoned him in his early years, but she had asked for God's mercy on her son, which is a profound reflection, as it punctuates the song with a sentimentality that transcends daily struggles.


The final verse of the song concludes with a sense of determination to continue pushing forward, despite the worry of leaving behind his loved ones. The singer refuses to go down "that long old lonesome road" by himself and states that he will "carry somebody else." It emphasizes that while the road may be long, it's a road that the performer is willing to take on, knowing that he has to take care of himself and those around him.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I'm so tired of crying
The singer is bored of being sad


But I'm out on the road again
Despite their sadness, the singer is going on a trip


I'm on the road again
The singer is traveling


I ain't got no woman
The singer does not have a special someone


Just to call my special friend
The singer has no significant other


You know the first time I traveled
The singer is recalling a previous trip


Out in the rain and snow
The weather was bad during the previous trip


I didn't have no payroll
The singer did not have money during their previous trip


Not even no place to go
The singer did not have a destination in mind during their previous trip


And my dear mother left me
The singer's mother passed away


When I was quite young
The singer was young when their mother passed away


She said "Lord, have mercy
The singer's mother asked for mercy from the Lord


On my wicked son"
The singer's mother is worried about their son's behavior


Take a hint from me, mama
The singer is giving advice to their deceased mother


Please don't you cry no more
The singer does not want their mother to be sad


'Cause it's soon one morning
The time for the singer's departure is coming soon


Down the road I'm going
The singer is going down a road


But I ain't going down
The singer is not going to give up


That long old lonesome road
The singer is referring to a difficult path


All by myself
The singer is alone


I can't carry you, baby
The singer cannot bring their special someone with them


Gonna carry somebody else
The singer will bring someone else with them instead




Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Alan Wilson, Floyd Jones

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@kennethmeyerowitz5417

walter trout is one of the greatest guitar players in the world yes i love canned heats musicians who
brought us some of the best blues music of our time.

@surferrick435

Thanks for putting this up.....brings back some memories.

@foggygoggle

 As "keeper of the flame" he has remained the band leader, rhythmic and spiritual force behind Canned Heat's music for over four decades.

@kennymeyerowitz4182

this video was over 20 years in the making.ilove the hole movie because it shows real life,real times last known line-up of the original canned heat.and special thanks to hells angles sanfranciso chapter.the music speaks for itself

@pamking464

This is such a gem!

@kennymeyerowitz509

Pam King I bought the video for 5$ in a Indian owned rental shop going out of business with Black Sabbath's full video of symptoms of the universe tour original line up.

@pamking464

Sooo good! Shared it to 3 more pages! I love the history behind the music!

@josealberto146

Blues melhor musica do Planeta tocada por esta grande banda os Canned Heat e este grande Senhor na guitarra Walter Trout este é o legado de música que os grandes Mestres Negros nos deram para ouvir.Obrigado.

@lazur1

Canned Heat? Really? No Mole. No Bear. No Blind Owl. No Sunflower. No Snake.. Only Fito, and even he wasn't on their first, (&best), record. Walter's great. I can see why he started his own band.

@surferrick435

Glad to see this is still around. I produced this with Canned Heat and a couple of guys I won't mention.

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