Story Behind The Song

I've spent a lot of time driving the highways of America and this song was inspired by those travels and the people I met along the way.

Song Description

This song is the story of a man wandering down a lost highway in America trying get some direction and finding peace in the common humanity. The beat and feel of the song make would make it a perfect traveling companion for anyone going down the same road.

Lyrics

Traveling Map (4:03)
© 2004 Jason Paul Johnston

Been in this town for a while, so it's time, Tired of watching all the clocks round here unwind.
Throw my bag into my '79, It's all that I own, leave the rest behind.

Somewhere out in Indiana State, Came the only dollar that I made.
I was forced to spend it there that day, I wished I could save it for the train.

Somewhere in Kentucky it got late, Later than the sun wanted to stay.
So I got a room and stayed away, From the only friend that I had made.

(chorus)
Then I poured over the map again
(to see that I was off again) - 2nd & 3rd times
I'm lost...
So I looked up to the sky
And folded the USA over my eyes

Tennessee's the place of love and hate, Full of all my family and my fate.
The heat it seems to saturate my brain, I'd rather spend my summers off of Maine.
Ohio seems to be the billboard state, They've got a highway with some taste.
Everywhere I drive it looks the same, Farms are being replaced by buffets.

Chorus

Heading in the wrong direction
Too much pride to pull aside
I hate to stop for some correction
Cause I feel like it just takes too much time...
Don't want to waste my time..


Shaking out the sleep at some rest place
My coin bought meal, I stopped and ate
I was all alone and yet I faced
All the friends I passed, there in that space
Brothers and sisters in this race
Not talking 'bout the kind you win first place
I'm thinking 'bout the way we looked the same
Squinting at the state map in the rain