Story Behind The Song

Highways and Low Places was born out of late-night reflection on what the road really takes from you. At first it started as a literal road song, but as the writing unfolded it became more of a metaphor for life itself: the wrong turns, the cracked roads, the people you meet and lose along the way. The line "time is a vagrant, not different from me" was a turning point in the writing process. It captured the idea that no matter how far you go or what you see, time just keeps moving forward. The song wrestles with regret, distance, and missed chances, but it is not all despair. There is a quiet acceptance that this is the life chosen, and in its own way, that is still living. It is a song for anyone who has ever felt the weight of their choices but kept driving anyway.

Song Description

"Highways and Low Places" is a raw, reflective modern folk-country/folk-rock song about the lessons learned on life's long road. Gritty storytelling, haunting regret, and lived-in imagery make this track a heartfelt anthem for anyone chasing miles and memories.

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I woke up this morning, same as the others,
Got to reflectin' on all of my druthers.
Knew a kid from the sticks who wasn't so bright,
But one thing he'd say: "You gotta learn from what's right."

Listen real close and I'll tell you some truth,
From my years on the road and the mistakes of my youth.
If a stop sign reads red, there must be a reason,
If you push on ahead, remember who's leadin'.

[Chorus]
Highways and low places,
The lessons I've learned,
From bridges I've crumbled and places I've turned.
Every mile's a story I won't soon forget,
And some that were great I still came to regret.

[Verse 2]
I've left too many chairs empty and unstable,
Broke too many hearts and houses with gables.
I rambled and rumbled 'til my bones did break,
And I hoped in the night to reverse my mistakes.

But time is a vagrant, not different from me,
It keeps on movin' despite what it sees.
And all of the things burned into these eyes,
Tell only one story... goodbyes.

[Chorus]
Highways and low places,
The lessons I've learned,
From bridges I've crumbled and places I've turned.
Every mile's a story I won't soon forget,
And some that were great I still came to regret.

[Bridge]
The road ain't just pavement, it's the choices we make,
Every turn that I've taken's left a mark in its wake.
I can't change what's been done, though I wish that I could,
But the journey is yours, son -- for better or good.

[Final Chorus]
Highways and low places,
The lessons I've learned,
From bridges I've crumbled and places I've turned.
Every mile's a story I won't soon forget,
And some that were great I still came to regret.

Highways and low places
Yeah, I know 'em well.