It's a cold, cold moon out tonight
and it's a cold, cold point on your knife
could i call myself a man if i left by the morning light

and i'd be 40 miles from denver
when you woke up all alone
i'd be 40 miles from denver
and three days from my home

in that cool mountain air
on an appalachian trail
oh, life is better there

it's a lonely road to travel on
but i've stood waiting much too long
and i'd rather leave this minute than try to carry on

and i'd be 40 miles from denver
headed eastbound on the track
i'd 40 miles from denver
and trying to get back

to that cool mountain air
on an appalachian trail
oh, life is better there

it's a cold, cold moon out tonight
and it's a cold, cold point on your knife
could i call myself a man if i left by the morning light

and i'd be 40 miles from denver
when you woke up all alone
i'd be 40 miles from denver
and three days from my home

in that cool mountain air
on an appalachian trail
oh, life is better there
oh, life is better there
oh, life is better there
oh, life is better there


Lyrics submitted by EJB92

40 Miles From Denver song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

8 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    yonder mountain kicks ass. there needs to be some more of their songs on here. the banjo is insane in all their songs

    rhcp182on May 07, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree with rhcp, these guys are great in concert too, maybe even better and their songs are completely amazing and can lift you up almost like no other. As for the song it seems to be excited for getting home (maybe) but its a good song for driving back to denver from a day of snowboarding

    Yonderingon March 11, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I fucking love them. Wayyyyy better then MOE. at the show. They got me up and grooving like crazy, I was beat for MOE.

    rlanantelopeon March 17, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I want the lyrics for I'm only sleeping, I can't find them.

    debz4784on February 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I live in Denver so this is like my theme song. These guys are really good.

    ImNeilYoungon July 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The band is from Nederland, Colorado which is roughly 40 miles from Denver.

    aftermarketgirlon May 11, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Simply this song is about leaving a girl and when she wakes up he's going to be long gone heading for the Appalachian Mountains.

    thymurdockon December 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    Oh, I thought this song was saying life is better here (Denver), but reading the lyrics he's clearly saying life is better in the Appalachians. Boooooooooo.

    AtomicCEOon October 14, 2010   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him. There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Album art
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines: "Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet" So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other: "I had all and then most of you" Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart "Some and now none of you" Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship. This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.