Walk down that lonesome road all by yourself
Don't turn your head back over your shoulder
And only stop to rest yourself when the silver moon
Is shining high above the trees

If I had stopped to listen once or twice
If I had closed my mouth and opened my eyes
If I had cooled my head and warmed my heart
I'd not be on this road tonight

Carry on

Never mind feeling sorry for yourself
It doesn't save you from your troubled mind

Walk down that lonesome road all by yourself
Don't turn your head back over your shoulder
And only stop to rest yourself when the silver moon
Is shining high above the trees


Lyrics submitted by oofus

That Lonesome Road song meanings
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4 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    I don't know exactly what James Taylor had in mind while writing this song along with Don Grolnick. He chose it to play at John Belushi's funeral. Bill Murray said in an interview for the book Live From New York that he vividly remembers James Taylor playing this song at John's funeral, and that hearing this song even today chills him and brings him back to John's grave. Now when I listen to it I think of John Belushi, Chris Farley and other great people that have been lost to drugs. Beautiful song.

    bigtequilaon April 24, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is so beautiful. the vannaires sang it during my school's production of The Laramie Project. i was straining my ears from backstage trying to listen to it. they did a really good job and the song itself is already so wonderful.

    NextTheSkyon June 15, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is awesome. i think it's just about never giving up no matter how bad thing goes and trying to keep on going.

    ElGruvoon May 14, 2004   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    I think this song is about his collapsing marriage to Carly Simon. It means that if he stopped and payed more attention to his wife and kids every once and a while then maybe his marriage could have survived and he wouldn't be on that "lonesome road". The album it's on was even titled "Dad Loves his work" but it wasn't enough to appease his wife.

    JTWorshipperon March 17, 2009   Link

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