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Elbow — The Only Road
Album: Flying Dream 1
Avg rating:
7.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 825









Released: 2021
Length: 4:09
Plays (last 30 days): 7
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The open road unrolling
And you in reach beside me

And a very chatty monkey
Fast asleep behind me

And the mountains rose before us
Noble brass for the chorus

And we talk of country kindness
As we put some miles behind us

And I guess we'll get to Inverness tonight
And I've lined a piper up just to make you cry
And the moon shows up to roll around our sky
And I've never been so sure
That I was right where I should be
In my whole life

Oh, I didn't see you coming
But now I'm nowt without you

You're the cooling glassy water
That feeds the trees about you

And the only road I know now
Is you and I together

And the little heart we started
Picks up that beat forever

And I guess we'll get to Inverness tonight
And I've lined a piper up just to make you cry
And the moon shows up to roll around our sky
And I've never been so sure
That I was right where I should be
In my whole life
And I've never been so sure
That I was right where I should be
In my whole life
Comments (25)add comment

Divorced 4 years ago. The decision was good, the relationship was bad, the love utterly gone. Now more of a father to my kids then I ever would or could have been in that mutually toxic environment. The kids enjoy that, I enjoy that. There’s much love going around. Perhaps we will become part of blended family. In any case, all is pretty well, considering.

But, every time this song comes on, I literally cry my heart out. It is unstoppable, try as I might. It’s as if the music and the words touch upon what seems to be a very real and very basic human need. A need that will go forever unfulfilled because of the divorce. Mind you, this comment is not a lament or a wallow in self-pity. Just trying to describe why it is that every single time I hear this, I am in total awe of how deep it goes, in all its beautifully crafted simplicity, right to the core of my (or maybe the?) human heart.

Hell, I don’t even have a driver’s license… 😉


So, 9 --> 10, also unstoppable
Posted 1 week ago by Exebeche    [ Reply ]
Bumped to 10.
Perfection.
So tender it hurts.
As soon as I hear those soft opening beats, my scalp tingles...
Posted 1 month ago by WilliDoc    [ Reply ]
Hub and I love long, 1,000 mile road trips. I'll have to play this for him.
Sheer bliss. 
Posted 2 months ago by sunybuny    [ Reply ]
Perfection.
Posted 2 months ago by mortrates    [ Reply ]
 ScottishWillie wrote:


I've liked this a little more each time I've listened to it. Then I read the lyrics, which took the song to a new level for me. When I got the context from SpinyNormas comment, I was blown away. Thanks, Radio Paradise.



  
Posted 4 months ago by Pedro1874    [ Reply ]
Moonkey! Love this band.
Posted 4 months ago by johnfiva    [ Reply ]
A grower not a shower   Upping to 9!
Posted 6 months ago by siqbal    [ Reply ]
 slugore wrote:

Hearing this band in regular rotation here on RP and I 100% approve. Yet another band introduced to me by RP!!!


Totally agree!
Posted 7 months ago by AbileneTexas    [ Reply ]
Just. Brilliant. 
Posted 8 months ago by WilliDoc    [ Reply ]
Bumped to a 9.
Posted 8 months ago by mortrates    [ Reply ]
Fab photo. Smooth sound. Sweet words. Plus, great BBC Radio 6 radio on which I depend. Mr Guy Garvey.
Posted 10 months ago by deniseperry    [ Reply ]
 slugore wrote:

Hearing this band in regular rotation here on RP and I 100% approve. Yet another band introduced to me by RP!!!

Yes indeed. I jumped over to post the same sentiment - you beat me to it.
c.

Posted 1 year ago by cc_rider    [ Reply ]
Hearing this band in regular rotation here on RP and I 100% approve. Yet another band introduced to me by RP!!!
Posted 1 year ago by slugore    [ Reply ]
 SpinyNorma wrote:
Mr Garvey, as usual melting my stony old heart with this gorgeous love song to his wife and son 


I've liked this a little more each time I've listened to it. Then I read the lyrics, which took the song to a new level for me. When I got the context from SpinyNormas comment, I was blown away. Thanks, Radio Paradise.
Posted 1 year ago by ScottishWillie    [ Reply ]
 not heard this understated, glorious little love song before. This Monday morning is now a warm and fuzzy one
Posted 1 year ago by hellsgardener    [ Reply ]
I've only recently discovered this extraordinary band. Thank you RP
Posted 1 year ago by dunvegan    [ Reply ]
 sqqqrly wrote:

+ 1 for using "nowt", Middle English for "nothing".



Still widely used by almost everyone in the northern half of England (Yorkshire, Manchester, Lancashire, etc.)
Posted 2 years ago by lewisv66    [ Reply ]
 sqqqrly wrote:

+ 1 for using "nowt", Middle English for "nothing".




Cool observation! 
Note: this word still exists in the modern English "naught".
Posted 2 years ago by woodchuk    [ Reply ]
 SpinyNorma wrote:
Mr Garvey, as usual melting my stony old heart with this gorgeous love song to his wife and son 


Yeah!
Gentle to my ears and soul.
Somehow sounds age-wise.
Melting my old ❤ too:)
Posted 2 years ago by tillrei    [ Reply ]
Mr Garvey, as usual melting my stony old heart with this gorgeous love song to his wife and son 
Posted 2 years ago by SpinyNorma    [ Reply ]
New Elbow, Nice
Posted 2 years ago by KevinM    [ Reply ]
Lovely
Posted 2 years ago by mcullers    [ Reply ]
Posted 2 years ago by yuel    [ Reply ]
Posted 2 years ago by yuel    [ Reply ]
+ 1 for using "nowt", Middle English for "nothing".
Posted 2 years ago by sqqqrly    [ Reply ]