1. The Road

4:09

Words, music, arrangement, performances, recording, and mixing by Stephen Solum.

©Ⓟ 2020. Stephen Solum. All rights reserved.

This is actually the last song I wrote and recorded for the entire No Doubt About It album. The opening guitar riff happened many years ago, but the rest came together in 2019-20. It was apparently finished and ready for mastering during the summer, but somehow just didn’t feel right. In a fit of frustration I muted all the vocals and wrote an entirely new song concept, lyric, and verse melody in about 25 minutes. I liked this new version and re-recorded the vocals to finish the song as now heard on the album.

The Road - lyrics

Who left the bottle on the highway?

‘Might as well stop and throw it in the car;

I swear I’ll never get to Green Bay,

It’s another long night in another dark bar.

Power, money, house, love,

Everybody get in line they say;

Power, money, house, love,

Gotta have ‘em all so you work all night,

and drive all day.

The Big Life, arenas and the airplanes,

But 20 years down & I’m looking’ in the mirror;

Seems like those shiny bright objects

Are still farther away than they seem to appear.

Power, money, house, love,

Everybody get in line they say;

Power, money, house, love,

Gotta have ‘em all so you work all night,

and drive all day.

I guess you hardly know me,

The time goes fast between the tours,

But the signs are printed clearly,

Just say the word and I’ll be yours.

Sign it on the line, take a chance this time,

You’ve been waiting for a guarantee;

Who you gonna fall for? Let it be me, be me...

Before you know, I’ll be there,

I don’t know when but I know why;

I’m coming home, I still care,

Tell me that you’re in; you’ll try, let’s try!

I can’t find my shades when I need ‘em,

How’m I gonna rest my bloodshot eyes?

Choose one: a home or the freedom,

The road’s getting old, let’s compromise.

Power, money, house, love,

There’s a price so I’ll pass on three, it’s

Love, love, love, love!

If I gotta choose it’s the one for me!