In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I'm a charger that charges through the night,
Like an orange bolt of lightning passing everything in sight.
I'm the best pal that you boys ever had,
I'm thunder on the highway lookin' bad, bad, bad.
I'm a knight, like the kind in shining armor,
With my polished body gleaming, I'm a fighter and a charmer.
If trouble comes your way just ask for me,
My friends all know me as General Lee.
I'm the Gerneral Lee,
A pistol pumpin', steel belted cavalry.
I'll never let you down when you're riding with me;
Buckle up and I'll show you what I mean.
Take a look back there:
Sirens blownin', red lights flashin' everywhere;
We'll cross the fields and we'll be running free,
They'll eat dust compliments of me:
The General Lee
I'm a hero, and that's how I'll make you feel
When you're riding shotgun with me and the law is at your heels.
I'm glory bound, but when the chase is done,
I'll take off through the mountains and have fun, fun, fun.
I've got style, tearing through the curves;
Let my flag wave proudly to the people that I serve.
I'm number one, and I will always be
The pride of the South they call the General Lee.
I'm the Gerneral Lee,
A pistol pumpin', steel belted cavalry.
I'll never let you down when you're riding with me;
Buckle up and I'll show you what I mean.
Take a look back there:
Sirens blownin', red lights flashin' everywhere;
I'll jump that pond and we'll be running free,
And they'll go swimmin', compliments of me:
The General Lee
The General Lee
General Lee
Like an orange bolt of lightning passing everything in sight.
I'm the best pal that you boys ever had,
I'm thunder on the highway lookin' bad, bad, bad.
I'm a knight, like the kind in shining armor,
With my polished body gleaming, I'm a fighter and a charmer.
If trouble comes your way just ask for me,
My friends all know me as General Lee.
I'm the Gerneral Lee,
A pistol pumpin', steel belted cavalry.
I'll never let you down when you're riding with me;
Buckle up and I'll show you what I mean.
Take a look back there:
Sirens blownin', red lights flashin' everywhere;
We'll cross the fields and we'll be running free,
They'll eat dust compliments of me:
The General Lee
I'm a hero, and that's how I'll make you feel
When you're riding shotgun with me and the law is at your heels.
I'm glory bound, but when the chase is done,
I'll take off through the mountains and have fun, fun, fun.
I've got style, tearing through the curves;
Let my flag wave proudly to the people that I serve.
I'm number one, and I will always be
The pride of the South they call the General Lee.
I'm the Gerneral Lee,
A pistol pumpin', steel belted cavalry.
I'll never let you down when you're riding with me;
Buckle up and I'll show you what I mean.
Take a look back there:
Sirens blownin', red lights flashin' everywhere;
I'll jump that pond and we'll be running free,
And they'll go swimmin', compliments of me:
The General Lee
The General Lee
General Lee
Lyrics submitted by barfolimew
The General Lee Lyrics as written by Cash Bresh
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The idea of a civil war train but there are a few lines that point to it being the Dukes of Hazzard General Lee: "I'm a charger that charges through the night"-The General Lee was a Dodge Charger "Like an orange bolt of lightning passing everything in sight"-the General Lee was orange "I'm thunder on the highway lookin' bad, bad, bad"-last i heard trains couldn't travel on highways among others
i dont see how anyone could have a doubtful thought about what this song is about. it's clearly about the car, The General Lee, off of The Dukes of Hazard. :]
I agree that this song is about the The Dukes of Hazard. Maybe this phrase "A PISTOL pumpin', ..." couldn´t be "A PISTON pumpin'"? And "Buckle up..." is the final sentence that this song really means to the car of the movie!
This song is written from the cars perspective, Johnny Cash IS The General Lee in this song, so yeah Eltigre, it is indeed piston pumping and it is not 'steel belted cavolry' it is "steel beltin- cavolry" referring to the speed at which the help arrives.
I love: 'and the law is at your heels'
I'll set the record straight on this one.. It is all about the General Lee, the car. I was asked to write it for the Dukes album. I was told to write it from the car's perspective for Johnny Cash to sing as HE would be the General Lee. It was a thrill hearing my lyrics and melody come from that iconic voice.
So hang on, You were the song writer for Johnny Paycheck(Cash). I'll need some proof before i believe that respectively.
its about being a rebel and having your friends there when you need them. Southern comfert and moonshine, "the american way" or just a fun song about the star of "dukes of hazard"...the general lee:-)
seeing as how Johnny Cash did both a number of train ballads as well as civil war songs i'm going to combine the two and say that this is a ballad for "The General Lee," a steam locomotive that the confederates used during the civil war...
but with the references to "Sirens blownin', red lights flashin' everywhere," "When you're riding shotgun with me and the law is at your heels," i can see how it might relate to the Dukes of Hazard car