Spent the last year
Rocky Mountain Way
Couldn't get much higher
Out to pasture
Think it's safe to say
Time to open fire

And we don't need the ladies
Crying 'cause the story's sad

'Cause the Rocky Mountain Way
Is better than the way we had

Well, he's tellin' us this
And he's tellin' us that
Changes it every day
Says it doesn't matter
Bases are loaded and Casey's at bat
Playin' it play by play
Time to change the batter

And we don't need the ladies
Crying 'cause the story's sad

Rocky Mountain Way
Is better than the way we had


Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by Nookoh

Rocky Mountain Way Lyrics as written by Joseph Fidler Walsh Joey Vitale

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Rocky Mountain Way song meanings
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16 Comments

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  • +3
    Song Meaning

    It seems like the story of a draft dodger who fled up into the mountains. The nonchalant way he says "Time to open fire" references the war that he was not a part of. "We don't need the ladies crying" is a reference to mothers who lost their sons at war, of which he was not one. "He's telling us this, he's telling us that" is a reference to Nixon lying all the time. I don't know who Casey is unless the line is actually "in case he's at bat" instead of "and Casey's at bat". "Time to change the batter" means getting a new president. The message of the song is that he would rather live up in the mountains than be at war or deal with the ridiculous political situation of 1973 (the year the song was written).

    Nookohon October 24, 2016   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Ok yall this is a song about the government in the 60s. the hippies revolted by goin bak to nature and the old ways, allot of youth didnt want to live like society wanted "its bettr the way we have" walsh actually says the bases r loaded IN CASE HES AT BATT talking about politics n the president, "time to change the batter" talking about nixon being elected and he was a crook too "it doesnt matter. Thats why that gen lived the rocky mountain way .

    mybrothrskeeperon May 22, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    He's telling a story...the lyrics are literal as well as figurative. He was inspired at Caribou Ranch above Boulder, Colorado (Nederland). For anyone who has ever been there, you know that it's a fact... you can't get much higher since the Continental Divide is in your face. Since he was finished with James Gang projects, he probably literally felt put out to pasture at the time. Lots of meadows around Ned, too.

    He's a songwriting genius. Love ya, Joe!!

    luckystiffon August 14, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is a excellent song, its a southern song, true.... when i jam to this song, it brings out my southern heritage in me... has some old southern folk in it...

    CoNjOutsidersLsSmon March 13, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is a excellent song, its a southern song, true.... when i jam to this song, it brings out my southern heritage in me... has some old southern folk in it...

    CoNjOutsidersLsSmon March 13, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Rocky Mountain Way...can't get much higher than that. I like to try though ;P

    2112Rush2112on January 11, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    can't say that's true but this song is terribly funky

    heyjude55on April 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The guitar is speaking its mocking the teachr from peanuts. Pokin fun out of the way the generations superiors allways in their ears tellin them what to do, joe walsh was the hippie eagle

    mybrothrskeeperon May 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    out to pasture think its safe to say time to open fire is a drug refrence. , dont need the ladies crying cuz the storys sad, the babyboomers wer jus goin to live life how they wanted, its our history folks

    mybrothrskeeperon May 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I dunno for sure what the lyrics are about, but they apply nicely to our current situation here in WI; this state sucks and gov. Walker is at bat, missing every pitch. I'd rather be in Colorado

    raisinflameson April 07, 2012   Link

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