Lost Highway
Willie Nelson / Merle Haggard / Ray Price Lyrics
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For a life of sin I have paid the cost
When I pass by all the people say
Just another guy on the lost highway
Just a deck of cards and a jug of wine
A woman's lies make a life like mineOn the day we met, I went astray
I started rolling down that lost highway
I was just a lad, nearly twenty two
Neither good nor bad, just a kid like you
And now I'm lost, too late to pray
I started rolling down that lost highway
Now boys don't start to ramblin' round
On this road of sin are you sorrow bound
Take my advice or you'll curse the day
I started rollin' down that lost highway
Started rolling down that lost highway
The lyrics of Willie Nelson and Ray Price's song Lost Highway can be interpreted on a personal and a wider societal level. On the personal level, the song tells the story of a man who has led a life of sin and is now lost, both physically and spiritually. The singer describes himself as a "rollin' stone" who has paid the cost for his transgressions. He is now wandering down the "lost highway," a metaphor for a path of self-destruction and loneliness. The singer says that he started down this road after meeting a woman who deceived him, leading him astray from a path of righteousness.
On a societal level, the song can be seen as a comment on the human condition. It highlights man's tendency towards destructive behavior, his susceptibility to temptation and the consequences of his actions. The character in the song represents a common trope in literature and song - the wandering loner who is lost and directionless. The song warns the listener not to follow in his footsteps and to take heed of the advice given.
Overall, the song speaks of the human struggle to find meaning and purpose in life while navigating the pitfalls that come with it. It offers a warning against succumbing to temptation and losing one's way.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a rollin' stone all alone and lost
As a wandering soul, I am lost and directionless.
For a life of sin I have paid the cost
The price of my immoral choices has come due.
When I pass by all the people say
The world sees me as just another aimless traveler.
Just another guy on the lost highway
As one of many drifters on this path to nowhere, I blend in with the crowd.
Just a deck of cards and a jug of wine
My possessions are few; a humble pack of cards and a bottle of wine.
A woman's lies make a life like mine
My downfall began with trusting a deceitful woman.
On the day we met, I went astray
The moment I encountered her, I strayed from the path of decency.
I started rolling down that lost highway
Her betrayal set me onto a road of self-destruction and inner turmoil.
I was just a lad, nearly twenty two
My descent into vice began when I was young and naive at the age of 22.
Neither good nor bad, just a kid like you
Like many young people, I was neither terribly virtuous nor particularly wicked.
And now I'm lost, too late to pray
I have fully strayed from the path of righteousness, with no chance for redemption.
Started rolling down that lost highway
I am fully committed to this self-destructive path, with no hope for turning back.
Now boys don't start to ramblin' round
My advice is to avoid this aimless wandering lifestyle altogether.
On this road of sin are you sorrow bound
The result of such choices will be a life of regret and pain.
Take my advice or you'll curse the day
Learn from my hard-earned experience and avoid this path, or you will come to regret it.
I started rollin' down that lost highway
I personally learned this lesson the hard way, and have experienced the consequences of following this path.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leon Payne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind