Chorus:
Cruisin' in my Cadillac,
You know I'm blusin',
Readin' Jack Kerouac
(4x)

Lately, I've been dreamin'
Tryin to find my inner-healing,
All the trouble I've been dealin',
Don't you wanna know,
Time has an endless meaning,
I long for this feeling,
I'll find all that sealed in,
When I'm on the road

(chorus)

Now love, I'll believe in,
My heart it keeps on breathin',
For the world I've been needin',
I wish you could go,
I'll dream through the seasons,
Gettin' lost for no reason,
Find a place I believe in,
When I'm on the road

I ain't tryin to lie to you, baby,
Life's just been a little crazy,
I don't want you to hate me,
Living on the road,
I'm tryin' to find out what life gave me,
Wishin' that love could save me,
Lookin' for the answers daily,
Living on the road

Spoken:
If you can not hear a book speak,
We are using this record
To learn a new technique

(chorus 2x)

I didn't want to lie to you, so there,
Tryin' to make it up to you, somehow,
But my soul just hasn't been 'round,
Livin' on the road

I been beat down for you so long,
It's a left a my, oh I'm gone,
I know that I can't go on,
Living on the road

I ain't tryin to lie to you, baby,
Life's just been a little crazy,
I don't want you to hate me,
Living on the road,
I'm tryin' to find out what life gave me,
Wishin' that love could save me,
Lookin' for the answers daily,
Living on the road

(chorus)


Lyrics submitted by Sylverfish02

Jack Kerouac song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

13 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is one of my favorite songs-- obviously, since I'm the one that posted it. The words are a little fuzzy in the last three sections, but I think its close... If you've heard the song and think you know the right lyrics, let me know.

    Back the meaning, this is a song about being on the road (ohh..), and the troubles that brings to life and relationships. Looking at the lyrics you'd think it was called "Living on the Road" or something... Actually, Jack Kerouac is a semi-famous author/poet, part of the Beat Generation. Anyway, its a great song, go download it!

    Sylverfish02on August 21, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I cant believe no one else has commented on this song. Differnet from Jacks usual stuff but still good. Great driving song.

    psu888on August 22, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I'm a huge Jack Johnson fan, but unfortunatly this song isn't sung by him. If you download it, it usually says his name. It's actually from a GREAT group called "Hot Sauce Johnson" and Jack isn't even closely related to them. If you don't believe me go to cdnow.com and type in hot sauce johnson in the artist column and check them out!! Killer song, though...but not Jack's surfer style.

    FlowersInMyHairon August 23, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I'm a huge Jack Johnson fan, but unfortunatly this song isn't sung by him. If you download it, it usually says his name. It's actually from a GREAT group called "Hot Sauce Johnson" and Jack isn't even closely related to them. If you don't believe me go to cdnow.com and type in hot sauce johnson in the artist column and check them out!! Killer song, though...but not Jack's surfer style.

    FlowersInMyHairon August 23, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    question for FlowersInMyHair: If it isnt sung by Jack Johnson does that mean he didn't write it?

    Gajomaon August 24, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    hey flowersinmyhair..it is by jack johnson..they prob just did a cover..i do believe that this is him though! I love how he mentions "On the Road" which is a book my Kerouac for those who didnt know..

    SnuffieSnifferon September 23, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Can't believe this is JJ. If so tell me who's playing the harmonica! Looks like some homeboys to me.....

    Rastaon September 26, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's definately not jack

    ricoj176on April 09, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i dunno if this song is also by this group, but i came across this other Jack Johnson on Kazaa....

    OKAY, HERE'S THE HISTORY LESSON: The boxer, JACK JOHNSON was the first black man to win the world heavyweight boxing championship. Now, we're talking 1908, almost 40 years before Jackie Robinson stepped to the plate in the majors, and the world was not ready for a baldheaded brother from Galveston to step into the ring and start swatting suckas like flies. They were definitely not readyfor his in your face attitude (JACK JOHNSON was the prototype for Muhammad Ali's trash talking bravado) or for his insistance that as a man he had a right to live and love whomever and however he wanted. Papa Jack simply did not fit into the confines and expectations that turn of the 20th Century American society held for Blacks... And don't think he didn't catch ten kinds of Hell for it. JACK JOHNSON, the band doesn't fit the concept of your everyday, ordinary thang either. Paul Cochrane and Kurtis McFarland started writing and recording music in 1993. The idea was supposed to be "What if Jimi Hendrix sang and played guitar with a hip-hop group," but the result was something completely different. They tried unsuccessfully to put together a band for over a year, but continued to record in their living rooms and garages and warehouses. On the strength of their 4-track demos and a live performance at label owner Corbin Dooley's wedding, they scored a record deal with San Diego based indie PC! Music Company. In an effort to make a kick-ass first recording, they flew in the funkiest human being they knew, drummer Simone White, formerly of Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy (currently of Fuzebox mp3.com/fuzebox) and found a ridiculously fluid 20-year old bass prodigy in now Nashville session player Ethan Pilzer. These cats got together in the spring of 1995 to make "Round One," a defiant, political, funky, album in just four days of rehearsal and recording. From jump it seemed the planets were aligned against them. They rented rehearsal space in a rundown warehouse in Murfreesboro,TN where they were rained on (INSIDE!) and locked in by mistake. The engineer who tracked the album was on them snorts and got arrested leaving the studio after the second night of recording. Still they were on a quest to finish tracking in those four days while Simone was in town. You can hear the urgency and anger in the rhythm as they lashed out musically against the forces that were attacking them. Simone delivered a funk assault with an energy that rocked the house that is A Cut Above studio in Nashville. Ethan's slinky, silky bass grooves showed a maturity far beyond his years. Master guitarist Paul whipped the group into a frenzy ripping brilliant track after brilliant track. Kurtis McFarland's soul-dipped vocals shouted and whispered the rage and blues that burned inside him. The results were magical, a unique heavy rock sound dripping wet with Southern funk and alternative hip-hop. . PAPA JACK was certainly smiling down on this young quartet, determined to scrap and fight through every inch of the adversity that faced them. These guys were ahead of the curve bringing the hip-hop loops to rock and making it swing. Socio-political statements and sweet love tunes... They couldn't call it rock cause it was too soulful. They couldn't call it R&B because of the distortion. Sitting around the kitchen table at the studio, Paul informs everyone "It's Distorted Soul." That phrase fit the music and the feeling that these young artists harbored about life. Well, they took some pictures and Simone flew back to San Francisco. Rather than join a band, Ethan went on to become one of the most sought after hired guns in Nashville. Paul and Kurtis fought on for two more years playing with several brilliant musicians like Tres Biles, Jerry Judd, Percy Person, Rico Campbell, Steve Hazelwood and the Hamilton Brothers. They enjoyed some local and regional success with the single "HIT" in the summer of '96. That song and another, "Blondie's Squad Car" were included in the movie BARB WIRE, Pamela Anderson Lee's bust-out cinematic performance. Still they quarrelled with the label and their management about the band's direction. Those frustrations and their inability to crack that ceiling that holds so many stellar bands on the local level caused the group to implode in the spring of '97. Much like their namesake, who died before his time in an auto accident, the band JACK JOHNSON, in their efforts to remain true to themselve and the music somehow skidded out of control, crashed and burned. However, unlike many fighters (and bands) who continue to take a pounding when they should quit, these guys knew when to hang up their gloves. These recordings remain as the only recorded testament of the blood, sweat and tears that were shed in the name of JACK JOHNSON. Kurtis got married, grew his hair, changed his name to Nadir (mp3.com/NadirDistortedSoul), and moved to Detroit. Paul has chosen to undertake the more difficult role of fatherhood and is pursing a second degree in engineering. They still play together from time to time, but both of them express regrets about the fate of JACK JOHNSON. There is some appropriate quote about the squandering of youth that many would insert in this space, but the men who fought and played with JACK JOHNSON did it for the shear love of the music. Given an opportunity to go back, they certainly would do things differently, but they all would do it again. You always hear boxers and musicians alike say, "It's in my blood. I have to do it." The bumps and bruises along the way are medals earned in battle just like the awards and accolades we all work so hard to attain. Take a moment now to listen and enjoy the power and energy, the poetry and finesse that was JACK JOHNSON.

    FuzzyMonkey10on June 13, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Hello, As stated above these lyrics are from Truck Stop Jug Hop By Hot Sauce Johnson. The song was written about Jack Kerouac by Jason De Costa & Sun Sannes. Its recorded in the copywrite office this way.It was recorded at Earls Place and Z-3 Studios and King Sound in California. What the song means in musicological since to me is Costa was reading Kerouac 's "On The Rod from the 50's" and said ,, this is similar to what my generation is doing when there crusing. Rasta the harmonica is really a sample played by Possum Hill. You all should by the cd from Amazon or someone and get the facts. It sell used for a buck. Great hip hop great band and educational.

    dogblueson June 23, 2004   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
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
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
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
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.
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.