On A Roll
Wipers Lyrics


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Johnny's got a problem
The only sun
That seems to say
Maybe I could slip away
Mission star
I don't really care
If I could get away
This funny farm
Isn't funny anyway
Maybe I could slip away
On the run

On a roll
Come on down
Let me dig in your hole(?)

When I fall away
The fall was the only way out
You know that it's hard not to feel it
When you hit it hard
If you take the shame
You'll wanna get away
This funny farm
Ain't so funny anyway
Maybe I could get away
On the run

On a roll
Come on down
Let me dig in your hole(?)

On a roll
Come on down
Let me dig in your hole(?)

On a roll
Come on down
Let me dig in your hole(?)

On a roll
Come on down
Let me dig in your hole(?)

When you're fallin
And you hear them say that there's now way out
You know it's hard not to feel it
When you feel the sun
Slippin through your hands
Maybe if I could find a way
This funny farm ain't so funny anyway
If we find a different way
It's time to roll

On a roll




Come on down
Let me dig in your hole(x4)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song 'On a Roll' by Wipers depict a person named Johnny, who is in a mental institution or a strange place, and he wants to escape from there. He feels that the place is not funny and wants to get away from it. Johnny thinks that the only way out is by falling away or slipping away from this place. He also mentions a mission star and how he does not care about it. The song seems to be about a person who is struggling with mental health issues and wants to escape from the world which seems unbearable to him.


Interestingly, the lyrics of the song have a repetitive structure throughout. There is a constant repetition of the phrase 'On a roll, come on down, let me dig in your hole' at the end of each verse. The song also suggests that the person is desperate to get away from the situation and is willing to take any risk to do so. The lyrics of the song convey a sense of hopelessness and despair, which are common emotions among people experiencing depression and anxiety.


Line by Line Meaning

Johnny's got a problem
There's something troubling Johnny


The only sun
The only source of light


That seems to say
That appears to express


Maybe I could slip away
Perhaps I could escape


Mission star
A goal or objective


I don't really care
I am not very concerned


If I could get away
If I could escape


This funny farm
This place of madness


Isn't funny anyway
Isn't amusing or enjoyable


On the run
Fleeing or escaping


On a roll
Feeling good, successful, and confident


Come on down
Join me or be part of it


Let me dig in your hole(?)
Not sure, could be a sexual reference


When I fall away
When I stumble or fail


The fall was the only way out
Failing was the only escape


You know that it's hard not to feel it
You know it's difficult not to experience it


When you hit it hard
When you encounter something difficult or intense


If you take the shame
If you accept the blame or guilt


Ain't so funny anyway
Isn't amusing or enjoyable regardless


When you're fallin
When you're slipping or failing


And you hear them say that there's now way out
And you hear others say that there's no escape


When you feel the sun
When you feel hope or positivity


Slipping through your hands
Escaping or disappearing quickly


Maybe if I could find a way
Perhaps if I could discover an opportunity


If we find a different way
If we discover an alternate path


It's time to roll
It's time to move on or succeed




Contributed by Peyton E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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