The Road
Waylon Jennings and the Waylors Lyrics
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Straighter than a preacher, longer than a memory
And it goes forever onward
It's been a good teacher for a lot of country boys like me
I push that load from here to someday
I'll push as long as I'm alive, but I don't know how long I'll last
'Cause it's just a road, it ain't no highway
I've been down this road just searchin' for the end
And it don't go nowhere, it just brings you back again
Leaves you lonely and cold, standin' on the shoulder
But you've come too far to go back home
So you're walkin' on a nowhere road
Some folks say, if you keep rollin'
And keep it on the yellow line, it'll take you to the big highway
But there's a toll to pay, so if you're goin'
The keeper of the gate is blind so you better be prepared to pay
I've been down this road just searchin' for the end
And it don't go nowhere, it just brings you back again
Leaves you lonely and cold, standin' on the shoulder
But you've come too far to go back home
So you're walkin' on a nowhere road
"Nowhere Road" by Waylon Jennings & Willie Nelson is a contemplative ballad that explores the idea of the journey being more important than the destination. The song is centered around the idea that there’s a road in Oklahoma that stretches on forever, and that this road is a symbol of life itself. It’s a tough and lonely road, but it’s one that many people have traveled before, and it’s one that they will continue to travel.
The lyrics of this song are both contemplative and philosophical, with each verse offering a different perspective on the road and what it represents. The opening verse introduces the road as a teacher, a straight and unrelenting presence in the lives of country boys like the singers. The second verse shifts focus to the singer's own experience on the road, with a sense of driving aimlessly, without a clear goal or end in sight.
The third verse expands on the theme of the journey being more important than the destination, with a warning about the tolls that must be paid along the way. The final verse loops back to the beginning, repeating the idea that the road doesn't go anywhere, but that we keep walking nonetheless, because we've come too far to turn back now. The song ultimately encourages us to embrace the journey itself, even if the eventual destination remains uncertain.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a road in Oklahoma
This song is about a specific road in Oklahoma that is long and straight.
Straighter than a preacher, longer than a memory
The road is very straight and seems to go on forever.
And it goes forever onward
The road seems to have no end.
It's been a good teacher for a lot of country boys like me
The road has taught many people, especially country boys like the singer, important life lessons.
I push that load from here to someday
The singer is pushing his problems and responsibilities down the road until he can deal with them someday.
I'll push as long as I'm alive, but I don't know how long I'll last
The singer will keep pushing his load as long as he can, but he is uncertain how much time he has left to do so.
'Cause it's just a road, it ain't no highway
The road is not a major highway with all the resources and maintenance that come with it.
Blowin' by the double five, I know I'm goin' way too fast
The singer is driving very fast, which is dangerous on this long and straight road.
Some folks say, if you keep rollin'
Some people believe that if you keep going down this road, you will eventually reach a major highway.
And keep it on the yellow line, it'll take you to the big highway
If you stay on the yellow line in the middle of the road, you will eventually reach a major highway.
But there's a toll to pay, so if you're goin'
There is a price to pay if you want to reach the major highway at the end of this road.
The keeper of the gate is blind so you better be prepared to pay
The person who controls access to the major highway cannot see, so you need to be ready to pay the toll just in case.
I've been down this road just searchin' for the end
The singer has been on this road before, hoping to reach the end.
And it don't go nowhere, it just brings you back again
The road does not lead anywhere, it just takes you back where you started.
Leaves you lonely and cold, standin' on the shoulder
When you reach the end of the road and realize it leads nowhere, you feel lonely and empty.
But you've come too far to go back home
Even though the road doesn't lead anywhere, the singer has come too far to just turn around and go home.
So you're walkin' on a nowhere road
The singer feels stuck on this road that doesn't go anywhere, with no clear direction or purpose.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVE EARLE, RENO KLING
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind