Detour Ahead
Woody Herman and His Orchestra Lyrics
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But why am I the only one
Travelin' this way
How strange the road you love
Should be so easy
Can there be a detour ahead
Wake up, slow down
None of that plown
You fool, you're headin'
In the wrong direction
Can't you see the detour ahead
The further you travel
The harder to unravel
The way he spins around you
Turn back while there is time
Can't you see the danger sign
Subshoulders surround you
Smooth road, clear night
Oh lucky me, that suddenly
I saw the light
I'm turning back away
From all this trouble
Smooth road, smooth road
No detour ahead
The lyrics of Woody Herman and His Orchestra's song Detour Ahead are profound and deeply reflective. The song is a journey of introspection in the wake of a complicated and confusing relationship. The singer finds himself alone on a smooth and clear road, which is contrasted by the confusing state of his relationship with his lover. He questions why the path of the heart, which is supposed to be simple, had led him astray.
The lyrics are rich in metaphor, with the smooth road representing the ease of life when everything falls into place, and the detour symbolizing the complications and uncertainties of love. The singer is urged to slow down and take stock of his life's journey before it leads him into further confusion or danger. The line "The further you travel, the harder to unravel" is a poignant reminder of how complicated life can become when we allow ourselves to drift blindly, without stopping to consider the consequences of our actions.
Overall, Detour Ahead is a reminder to remain vigilant on our life's journey and to be mindful of every detour and obstacle that we encounter along the way, especially in our relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Smooth road, clear day
Everything seems to be going well with no trouble in sight.
But why am I the only one
Despite everything looking good, something feels off and out of place.
Travelin' this way
The singer is questioning why they seem to be the only one on this path.
How strange the road you love
It's not uncommon for a person to be attracted to a path that isn't commonly taken by others.
Should be so easy
Despite being seemingly easy and trouble-free, something doesn't feel right.
Can there be a detour ahead
The singer is wondering if they will encounter some sort of obstacle or setback in the future on this path.
Wake up, slow down
The singer is warning themselves to stay alert and not rush ahead too quickly.
Before you crash in that yard
Don't make mistakes that could lead to negative consequences down the line.
None of that plown
The singer is being critical of their own actions and warning themselves to not make reckless decisions.
You fool, you're headin'
The singer is scolding themselves for making a mistake, and realizes they are heading in the wrong direction.
In the wrong direction
The singer is acknowledging that they are no longer on the right path to success or happiness.
Can't you see the detour ahead
The singer is begging themselves to see the signs of danger ahead and to make a change before it's too late.
The further you travel
The longer you stay on the wrong path,
The harder to unravel
The more difficult it becomes to correct the mistake and change course.
The way he spins around you
The person or obstacle in the singer's path is causing confusion and disorientation.
Turn back while there is time
The singer realizes that there is still a chance to fix the mistake and urges themselves to do so immediately.
Can't you see the danger sign
The singer is reminding themselves to stay alert for warning signs of possible danger.
Subshoulders surround you
The singer feels trapped and surrounded by pressure and negative influences.
Smooth road, clear night
The singer has finally made it through the rough patch and things are looking up.
Oh lucky me, that suddenly
The singer acknowledges that they have been fortunate in finding their way back to the right path.
I saw the light
The singer is expressing the realization that the correct path has been illuminated before them.
I'm turning back away
The singer is making the necessary changes to return to the right path and away from danger.
From all this trouble
The singer is leaving the struggles of the past behind and focusing on moving forward with a clear path ahead.
Smooth road, smooth road
The singer has once again found the path that is easy, trouble-free, and leads them in the right direction with no detour ahead.
Lyrics © PRINCESS MUSIC PUBLISHING CORP
Written by: HERB ELLIS, JOHN FRIGO, LOU CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind