I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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 storie'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, uh huh
Rocky Moutain Way
Is better than the way we had
Hey, hey, hey, hey
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 storie'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, uh huh
Rocky Moutain Way
Is better than the way we had
Hey, hey, hey, hey
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by Nookoh
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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).
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 .
Well finally this is the first close to the truth translation I've ever seen. It's clearly a draft dodger reference as many young people at the time found hiding wherever they could to avoid the draft including the Rocky mountains and Canada - "it's better than the way we had" is a refernce to blind obedience of the first and second world wars... and the rest is history...<br />
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!!
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...
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...
Rocky Mountain Way...can't get much higher than that. I like to try though ;P
can't say that's true but this song is terribly funky
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
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
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