Sleeping on the BlacktopColter Wall Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴High heel lady spitting at the nickajackBusiness man with a needle and a spoonCoyote chewing on a cigarette
Hey darlin'!Sleeping on the blacktopHey darlin'!Running through the trees honeyHey darlin'!Leaving for the next townLess'n my sense catches up with me
Three dead in a crash on the number fourTwo witnesses below and up highNot sure whose will be doneYou can call me a sinner for wondering why
Hey darlin'!Sleeping on the blacktopHey darlin'!Running through the trees honeyHey darlin'!Leaving for the next townLess'n my sense catches up with me
Corn liquor tastes sweeter in this townCould it be it's the same as the last?I swear I've seen ya face elsewhere beforeJust as familiar as a bottle and a glass
Hey darlin'!Sleeping on the blacktopHey darlin'!Running through the trees honeyHey darlin'!
Leaving for the next townLess'n my sense catches up with me
Colter Wall's song Sleeping on the Blacktop depicts life in a small, rural town where the only entertainment is found in cheap bars and dancing in the rain. The song starts off with a cheerful tone, describing the sunshine and moonlight in the area, as well as a string band playing honky-tonks. However, the lyrics soon take a darker turn, detailing the struggles of those living in the town. A high heeled lady spits at the "nickajack", which is a term used to describe a kind of fish that is commonly found in the region. This could symbolize the frustration of someone who is fed up with her life in the town and takes it out on harmless things.
The next set of lyrics depict a businessman with a needle and spoon, which implies drug use and addiction in the town. The coyote chewing on a cigarette could represent the people in the town who have given up on their dreams and are now living on the fringes of society. The pack of young boys howling at the moon could represent the rebellious nature of the youth in the town who feel suffocated by the constraints of their lives.
Throughout the song, the repeated phrase "Hey darlin'!" is a call to someone who may be able to change things, but it is unclear who this person is or if they exist at all. The final verse mentions a fatal car crash and the uncertainty of people's fates, asking profound questions about the morality of life.
Sunshine beating on the good timesClear weather making good times even better
Moonlight raising from the graveNew beginnings arising from tough times
String band playing worn out honky-tonksOld music being played in dive bars
Pretty young thing going dancing in the rainYouthful joy in letting loose and dancing in the rain
High heel lady spitting at the nickajackA refined woman acting tough and rebellious
Business man with a needle and a spoonA professional succumbing to addiction
Coyote chewing on a cigaretteA wild animal exhibiting human-like behavior
Pack o' young boys going howlin' at the moonGroup of young men letting loose and being wild
Hey darlin'!Addressing a loved one
Sleeping on the blacktopHomeless and sleeping rough
Running through the trees honeyMoving on to a new place quickly
Leaving for the next townNomadic lifestyle, always on the move
Less'n my sense catches up with meActing on impulse without thinking things through
Three dead in a crash on the number fourFatal car accident on a specific highway
Two witnesses below and up highPeople witnessing the tragedy from different angles
Not sure whose will be doneUncertainty about fate and destiny
You can call me a sinner for wondering whyQuestioning the meaning behind life's tragedies
Corn liquor tastes sweeter in this townAlcohol tastes better in certain places
Could it be it's the same as the last?Wondering if this place is the same as previous ones
I swear I've seen ya face elsewhere beforeFeeling like you've seen someone before
Just as familiar as a bottle and a glassFeeling comfortable and familiar with a place or person
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLCWritten by: Colter Wall
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
