Story Behind The Song

My grandfather died and it united my family for the first time in ten years. That visit to North Idaho to his deathbed moved me, and that night in the hotel room I began this song.

Song Description

Inspired by James McMurtry's "Song for a Deck-Hand's Daughter; covers four generations of a young girl's family in three verses. Asks the question: are our lives planned? Explores the mystery of familial bonds and inevitibility.

Lyrics

Your daddy was just a rock n roll musician
he spent the bulk of his life with those three chords
I don't believe in love nor superstition
but I believe you were born for the open road

your mamma was just a rambler too
settled down long enough to deal with you
not longer
for the most part this made you stronger

(chorus)
but sometimes it comes up from behind
headlights on this highway life

your grandpa the county commissioner
her made the decisions for
the people till the bottle took its price
he threw the dice he couldn't recognize
his son growing up with similar eyes
and good hands
but this kid could make you dance

(chorus)
sometimes your dad found himself inclined
in his mind he had you planned
when you married John he played you
a new bad song at the reception
you were mad

the sun done rise the city sighs in unison
full moon's on a roll and you've got plans
you can thank your dad for your eyes terrified
of spending too many nights alone inside
with your man
so you hit the road instead

(chorus)
yeah but the kid you left behind
soon got signed and had a band
seventeen years old when he hit the road
makes you wonder don't it baby
if it was planned