This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Pearls and swine bereft of me
Long and weary my road has been
I was lost in the cities
Alone in the hills
No sorrow or pity for leaving I feel
Chorus
I am not your rolling wheels
I am the highway
I am not your carpet ride
I am the sky
Friends and liars don’t wait for me
I’ll get on all by myself
I put millions of miles
Under my heels
And still too close to you
I feel
Chorus
I am not your rolling wheels
I am the highway
I am not your carpet ride
I am the sky
I am not your blowing wind
I am the lightning
I am not your autumn moon
I am the night
The night
I am not your rolling wheels
I am the highway
I am not your carpet ride
I am the sky
I am not your blowing wind
I am the lightning
I am not your autumn moon
I am the night
The night
Long and weary my road has been
I was lost in the cities
Alone in the hills
No sorrow or pity for leaving I feel
Chorus
I am not your rolling wheels
I am the highway
I am not your carpet ride
I am the sky
Friends and liars don’t wait for me
I’ll get on all by myself
I put millions of miles
Under my heels
And still too close to you
I feel
Chorus
I am not your rolling wheels
I am the highway
I am not your carpet ride
I am the sky
I am not your blowing wind
I am the lightning
I am not your autumn moon
I am the night
The night
I am not your rolling wheels
I am the highway
I am not your carpet ride
I am the sky
I am not your blowing wind
I am the lightning
I am not your autumn moon
I am the night
The night
Lyrics submitted by ruben
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
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Just wanted to say that I love this song. It has been a big help and solace during my recovery. Also - I'm amazed that this website has a nearly 8-year thread of persons commenting on this song in a very respectful manner. Almost restores my faith in humanity, and it's a great example of a constructive way the internet can be used. Thanks.
I agree completely! This is just the right way for the internet to be used!
@mojojojogp0 brother today I sttarted my recovery and I do identify myself with you! totally! this songs makes me keep going and not to look back!<br />
@mojojojogp0 No doubt SongMeanings rocks. I've been using it for many years.
@mojojojogp0 I also listened to this obsessively during my first round / bout / battle with sobriety. Going into another now but thankfully had some real recovery, so I didn’t stray too far. Just sat on the fence for a minute too long. Was working hard on it, then my favs started falling off like f’n dominos. A head full of recovery, grounded in reality really makes checking out impossible. Attempts at obliterating reason & numbing all feelings result in no amount of anything ever enough.
All the comments I read all seem to be wrong...or at least to compared to how I read this song.
I am not your rolling wheels I am the highway I am not your carpet ride I am the sky
A relationship where he just a girl's rolling wheels is one like you would have in high school or college for a short stint that was fun but which ultimately ended. A short term enjoyable trip (rolling wheels or magic carpet ride.)
He is saying he wants to be and is her everything-->a highway or a sky.
Then he says friends and liars and don't wait for me and he put millions of miles on his feet to get away and forget about her, but then he says he...
And still too close to you I feel
He is saying he still has feelings and wants to be with her, but not just for a fling for whatever short term or more casual relationship the girl had wanted.
then he says...
I am not your blowing wind I am the lightning I am not your autumn moon I am the night
Not your blowing wing is more reference to not being just a short term whatever to her in his mind. He is the lighting or the autumn moon (husband\father\long term relationship wanting)
Only person to get the meaning right so far.
@Acrobatc101 I wonder if Chris C is speaking of a girl that actually thought of him like that, if so, WHat a Crazzzyy girl!!! .....IMO, Chis is like a God, and I would make him feel that way, EVERY MINUTE:) lol...
@Acrobatc101 I really kinda disagree with this, particularly the last part. A flash of lighting doesnt really last very long, nor does an autumn moon or blowing wind. The night is the only thing that is permanent and sure to be. :o
@Acrobatc101 So many of us have that one person, that we couldn’t be with, for whatever reason, whom we have been in love with, sometimes for our entire adult lives. And there is a day when you realize that, and the regret is overwhelming. You may even love others during this time, and maybe realize that every day of your life you have missed out on your true love. This is the kind of depression that would cause us to want to check out on drugs, inspire incredible profound music about this love, possibly the whole time not even realizing your true heart lies elsewhere. Imagine this pain. I have experienced this, and I would put money that this is what happened to Chris. It is the saddest thing in an otherwise amazing livelihood that can happen. I’m convinced this was Chris’ legacy, and the reason for his demise. I think this song is a more direct cry out for her. I sense this from other lyrics written by him, almost seems to kind of hide them a bit, even if that is subconscious. It is deep, complicated, and tragic. Love is a mother fuker....but the lesson perhaps is to make sure all who you truly love in life, absolutely know it.
Means..
Im not what you define me as
I'm what I define me as..
Simple
@Russ32579 exactly.
This song is NOT a love song! This song is about being free. No chains.
I am not your rolling wheels, I am the sky.
He isn't saying he is "your" sky. But THE sky in general.
"I put millions of miles Under my heels And still too close to you I feel"
I feel this sums up the song very well. It's about getting out of a relationship. Not necessarily one that was toxic, but one that was constraining. Tell him to be something or someone else. This isn't a love song, but a break up song if anything. Hell it could be about all kinds of different relationships, but this is about separation in general. Detaching yourself from whatever foundation and being free.
The first line (pearls and swine, bereft of me) automatically brought to mind the Biblical passage that reads "Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them underfoot, and then turn and tear you to pieces." Perhaps the singer is expressing the fact that he's trying to escape from some sort of hurt, putting distance between himself and this pain for the sake of his well being? Just a thought.
@karmakazi absolutely right. How very well versed, are you? Rare to find deep thinkers anymore.... Well, the kind who actually get things right. Chris was a deep thinking introvert, and i assume you are too. I definitely am. So it is kind of a breakup song about a person who gave more then he should have to someone and they took him for granted, like he was nothing but he is letting them know that he isnt someone to push around, Like saying "you cant <br /> play me, I made that game." and now he cant get far enough away from that person. Like saying "this place isn't big enough for the 2 of us" or like maroon 5 said "not fit to f'in tread the ground that im walking on"
This is my first post, I hope it's worthwhile.
It seems some sort of conflict is trying to be expressed, an internal conflict. These people that have claimed to, and should, love him have abused, mistreated, and finally all but completely forgot about him. This is expressed in the first verse. Those claiming to be his friends, or those puttiing up a false front, appearing true and good (pearls), in reality, have treated him no better than those whoe obviously just don't care outrite just cruel and cold towards him, and have essentially left him for dead (bereft of me). He was lost, and they made no attempt to help him on his way. He was alone, and they gave no true comfort or friendship to him.
In the chorus and first part of the second first he basically building self-confidence, telling himself and others that he's better than be's been treated, or been given credit for. He no longer needs their help, as if they had ever given it him anyway. Then he tell them to just stop pretending, and not to worry about trying to make amends, he's perfectly capable of doing himself.
In the second part of the second chorus is where he expresses his conflict or confusion. Despite all the ways he's been wronged, despite how far he's moved passed, for reasons that aren't clear to him, he still has compassion or feelings for them. This is in conflict what he said in the last part of the first verse. Here he realizes that these people do mean something to him.
Finally, the repetition of the chorus, in a sense, is kind of like a last hurrah. It's basically a final declation of his sense of pride and self-worth.
...or all of this could be complete BS. This is just my take on the song, and hopefully it might help a little.
IMO this is audioslave's 2nd best song after "doesn't remind me". about the chorus is a very fragile point i think:
"I am not your rolling wheels I am the highway I am not your carpet ride I am the sky I am not your blowing wind I am the lightning I am not your autumn moon I am the night"
wheels rolling on the highway, flying carpets float through the sky and the moon appears in the night. all of the above means that he (chris) doesn't want to be a tool for uses of others.
@ColdenScence yet that's how he ended up :'(
@ColdenScence Agreed, great comment.
This song is powerful!
This soul has endured what "they" can not even fathom. He feels no loss for leaving. His value is not realized. Without the highway, would the wheels roll?
Without the sky, would the carpet ride? Without the night, would we see the autumn moon?
When friends align with the liars, he can't move far enough away.
By the grace of his higher power, he realizes his worth, and the value he added to their lives.
Eek! Correct lyrics as appeared in the CD case:
Pearls and swine bereft of me Long and weary my road has been I was lost in the cities Alone in the hills No sorrow or pity for leaving I feel
Chorus I am not your rolling wheels I am the highway I am not your carpet ride I am the sky
Friends and liars don’t wait for me I’ll get on all by myself I put millions of miles Under my heels And still too close to you I feel
Chorus I am not your rolling wheels I am the highway I am not your carpet ride I am the sky I am not your blowing wind I am the lightning I am not your autumn moon I am the night The night
I am not your rolling wheels I am the highway I am not your carpet ride I am the sky I am not your blowing wind I am the lightning I am not your autumn moon I am the night The night
I listen to this song when I'm fed up with people, because that's exactly what this dude is singing about in the verses. At the end of them, though, he throws in that he left someone behind. He's running away.
And the chorus. Somehow he's returning to talk about the person he left behind, but I read it this way: I won't get you there (I am not your rolling wheels), but I'll show you the way (I am the highway). Perhaps he left that person because they wouldn't move on in their life, and he's trying to show them.
Well....anyone else? =)
the first time i heard the song i knew the corous was talking directly about God, he keeps saying I am not this little stuff I'm so much bigger...the verses took me longer but now I think that they are about finding yourself and God within apart from everyone you know both good and bad, kind of the journey to God is a one man mission and other hold a person back
hes saying that he is more important than what you think... i am not your rollign wheels i am the highway...its like a bigger picture...i dunno
exactly , he wan't the others to know he's not something you just stick your foot ,, he's way better than that