Down the Road

Release date: 11/11/2026

 

Listen on:

The story behind the song:

This song came about in a rather unusual way, at least as far as my process normally goes. I sat down, mug of black coffee in hand and said I’m going to write a song. I knew that I wanted it to have a kind of upbeat tempo, possibly a song that could have a bluegrass boom-chuck rhythm, though, I don’t play it that way here. The reason for this was it was the first original that I was going to pitch to my Grateful Dead and Dead-adjacent cover band, The Deadly String Band. 

I knew that I wanted the song to have a repetitive chord structure, like most old time folk, blues, country and bluegrass. I also knew that I wanted the lyrics to be less impressionistic than my songs usually are; I wanted this to be plainspoken, again like old folk and follow a basic structure, but as with all my songs and really any good songs, I still wanted a catchy chorus. I’m a sucker for a catchy ear worm of a chorus. I also knew that I really wanted this song to have a B7 chord in it, the way two of my favorite tunes to play do: Old Home Place and Pallet on Your Floor. That B7 adds some nice spice to a tune when placed just so. 

As for the lyrics of this tune, the story basically wrote itself. I was thinking of somebody I knew when I was just a pup who had big plans for music, big charisma and talent to spare. At the time, we just didn’t want the same things and like so many people in our lives they left a mark and then moved on. This song is for them; well for us, really and it aims to celebrate that we meet people in our lives, they make an impression, but sometimes we’re just not on the same trajectory. They’ve become wildly successful and I do hope that one day we meet up again down the road.

Down the Road – Lyrics

Chorus:

Maybe I’ll see you down the road
And then again, maybe I won’t.
I hope you find what you’re seeking
Maybe we’ll meet again down the road.

When we met I could see you were different
Big ideas and stars in your eyes
I got drunk on your passion
And got high on your lust for life

Chorus

You had a dream that you had to go after
And I’m all for chasing your heart
I hope you found what you were seeking
But I just couldn’t go that far

Chorus

Sometimes, I wonder how you’re doin’
As I remember our good times
Wherever you are, I hope you’re happy
and as for me, I’m doing just fine.