I've witnessed those one night stands
Must have played in a thousand bands
But I'm just here tonight, tomorrow I'll be gone
Seen folks show their blacker sides
Seen them die just for foolish pride
And those drivers always ask to hear that same old song

That's a big ten-four
From your back door
Just put that hammer down
This young man feels
Those eighteen wheels
That keep turning 'round to take me down to Shaky Town

I've heard all those hard luck tales
From all of you U.S. males
I've heard you tell those lies about the love you've know
And I've followed those highway signs
And I've run down those thin white lines
Like those drivers this old road is all I call my own

That's a big ten-four
From your back door
Just put that hammer down
This young man feels
Those eighteen wheels
That keep turning 'round to take me down to Shaky Town


Lyrics submitted by LAbabe

Shaky Town song meanings
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  • 0
    General Comment

    All the way down to Shaky Town...the end is so great.

    pakaloloon February 28, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Shaky Town: San Francisco 10-4: I hear you over radio loud and clear back door: person behind you watching for police from behind put the hammer down: hit the gas, go faster than the limit eighteen wheels: a big rig has 18 wheels

    Although Jackson Browne is famous as a liberal pop-folk singer, he played countless country music bars, and he's comparing himself in his period of nomadic touring to the truckers he sang to. Musicians often have to depend on touring to survive, and some broke musicians had to hitch rides with truckers.

    MarionDelgadoon July 26, 2011   Link

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