On The Road Again

Album: Boogie With Canned Heat (1968)
Charted: 8 16
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  • Well I'm so tired of cryin' but I'm out on the road again - I'm on the road again.
    Well I'm so tired of cryin' but I'm out on the road again - I'm on the road again.
    I ain't got no woman just to call my special friend.

    And I'm going to leave the city, got to go away.
    I'm going to leave the city, got to go away.
    All this fussing and fighting, man I sure can't stay.

    You know the first time I travelled out in the rain and snow - in the rain and snow.
    You know the first time I travelled out in the rain and snow - in the rain and snow.
    I didn't have no fellow, not even no place to go.

    And my dear mother left me when I was quite young - when I was quite young.
    And my dear mother left me when I was quite young - when I was quite young.
    She said "Lord have mercy on my wicked son."

    Take a hint from me mama please don't you cry no more - don't you cry no more.
    Take a hint from me mama please don't you cry no more - don't you cry no more.
    Cause it's soon one morning down the road I'm gone.

    But I ain't going down that long and lonesome road - all by myself.
    But I ain't going down that long and lonesome road - all by myself.
    I can't carry you baby, gonna carry somebody else. Writer/s: Alan Wilson, Floyd Jones
    Publisher: MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 8

  • V from EnglandAlways loved Al Wilson, especially when he sang On The Road Again. He was one of my favourites, so sad he died so young. But never forgotten. Vxxx
  • Kkaarr from Out There!Found a nearly flawless copy of this song on an album I bought on eBay! Back in the day I purchased a "super hits" compilation album that has this song on it, I still have it, so it's great to hear the complete album after 50+ years!
  • Absinthe from St. PaulWilson was given a veena by guitarist John Fahey, who couldn't play it so he gave it to Al, who quickly learned how. Wilson went to Boston University, not UCLA.
    The lyrics are actually:
    I didn't have no faro
    Not even no place to go

    Faro is an obscure delta blues term for girlfriend. The word is also used in Wilson's other song on Boogie with Canned Heat, "The Owl Song."
  • Patricus Rexus from NoybPartially reincarnated as Blues Traveller. Play run around over this or vice versa and enjoy some Newcastle browns.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn November 22nd 1968, Canned Heat were one of the three acts* to play the first of two nights at the Filmore East in New York City...
    Earlier in 1968 on August 4th the Los Angeles quintet's "On the Road Again" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #99; seven weeks later on September 22nd it would peak at #16 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for 11 weeks...
    The group had four other Top 100 records; "Going Up the Country" {#11 in 1969}, "Time Was" {#67 in 1969}, "Let's Work Together" {#26 in 1970}, and with Little Richard "Rockin' With the King" {#88 in 1972}...
    Lead singer Bob 'The Bear' Hite passed away on April 6th, 1981 at the young age of 38...
    May he R.I.P.
    * The two other acts on the bill were Iron Butterfly and the Youngbloods.
  • Rod from Salina, KsYour lyrics are incorrect. The correct lyrics are:
    In the rain and snow
    I didn't have no farro
    Not even no place to go

    Farro is an Italian cereal dish made essentially out of boiled wheat. Not having any farro or no plce to go meant he was homeless
    and hungry. Makes a lot more sense that "payphone". Also, if one listens to different versions recorded at different times by the Heat, the words morph from time to time.




    The Correct lyrics:

  • Craig from San Diego, CaI was hitchhiking around the USA, Canada,
    and the far north when I first this track.
    I could sure relate.
  • Stu from New York, NyI had always thought that Alan Wilson's voice was somewhat reminiscent of Pete Townshend's. I often thought that this would be a great cover song for Pete. Well, lo and behold, he did it on a great 1999 live double CD from the House Of Blues in Chicago. It's called "A Benefit For Maryville Academy." Check it out. The excellent version of "On The Road Again" was not the only fine track on this release.
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