Loudon Wainwright Iii - Road Ode

another loudon wainwright iii classic , and the opening song on his 1993 live album
“career moves” . i got these chords from listening to the recording , and watching A
video of frank turner covering the song live : )

( on the road again
paying my back taxes , road again )

G

G
well you walk into the room and switch on the tv
Cadd9
and there’s phil donahue or oprah winfrey
D
and suddenly you don’t feel so lonely
Cadd9 G
even though you’re out on the road
G
open up the drawer and there’s that bible
Cadd9
god’s honest truth , but you’re not liable
D
to use it you prefer myth and libel
Cadd9 G
that’s ’cause you’re out on the road
G
it’s baby shampoo , no you’re not snobby
Cadd9
losing your toothbrush is your hobby
D
lucky they sell that stuff in the lobby
Cadd9 G
lucky that you’re out on the road

Cadd9
out on the road , out on the road
G
you’re willy loman , and you’re tom joad
D Cadd9 G
vladimir and estragon , kerouac , genghis khan
Cadd9
out on the road , out on the road
G
’keep on going’ is your creed and code
D
it’s a different way of life; it’s a whole other mode
Cadd9 G
living out on the road

D

well you’re packin’ ’em in so we did ok
but the people from the record company didn’t pay
so there’s no percentage , though it looks that way
man , it’s funny when you’re out on the road
it’s your fault , you didn’t draw
there was a item in the paper that nobody saw
when business is bad then there ought to be a law
against you out on the road
there’s people to avoid , places to miss
backstage access , who need this?
the club is a toilet when you gotta’ take a piss in the
sink when you’re out on the road

out on the road , out on the road
you’re willy loman , and you’re tom joad
vladimir and estragon , kerouac , genghis khan
out on the road , out on the road
that’s where your wild oats were sowed
you start out a prince and you end up a toad
living out on the road

room service is a trick , rarely a treat
so you go for a bite that can’t be beat
but how many patty melts can one man eat
when he’s eating out on the road?
a cat eats a fish , a dog eats a bone
out on the road , a man eats alone
time to reflect and to atone for his
sins out on the road
runnin’ through airports at 43 is okay for oj but it’s not for me
with a hernia , a bad back and a bum knee and A
guitar out on the road

out on the road , out on the road
you’re willy loman , and you’re tom joad
vladimir and estragon , kerouac , genghis khan
out on the road , out on the road
the flight’s been canceled , you should have known
the airport is your new abode
living out on the road

( let’s go! )

when it’s time to come back to reality
you’re roadsick and you’re half crazy
so you fit right in quite naturally
home from out on the road
back to see family and friends
and to face the music and to make amends
but coming up for air , you can get the bends
in from out on the road
open that bag , go on , expose it
open that window , hold you nose it’s
eight weeks worth of dirty clothes
in from out on the road

Cadd9
willie nelson has a bus
G
and a sound man he can kick and cuss
D
and a road manager to make a fuss
Cadd9 G
willie goes out on the road
Cadd9
a roadie carries his guitar
G
and in that bus is a vcr
D
well willie deserves it , he’s a big old star
Cadd9 G
willie goes out on the road
Cadd9
so willie goes out for weeks at a time
G
makes a ton of money , it’s a life sublime
D
but for me it’s punishment and crime
Cadd9 G
why do i go out on the road?

out on the road , out on the road
i’m not willy nelson , i’m tom joad
vladimir and estragon , kerouac , genghis khan
out on the road , out on the road
’keep on going’ is your creed and code
but if you keep on going , you’re going to explode
living out on the road