Out On US Highway 30
i was way out on US Highway 30
between Ogallala and North Platte, Nebraska, yes I was y’see there’s a mailbox there i was gonna go put a letter in and if you ask me why, friend I’ll tell you just because now my letter you see was addressed to no one in particular but I had written it carefully, friend, in my finest hand you wonder why i had to put it in a mailbox out in the middle of nowhere well even I myself did not understand i guess we all got something to say even if we’re not sure who to say it to just like this song right here damned if know who to play it to well anyway, not everything can always be explained some things can’t be explained walking along that lonely old highway, holding my letter there came up a mighty dust storm lord that dirt was blowing that fearsome driving wind it blew my letter right outta my hand and it was carried away on that swirling dust and sand all my best laid plans stolen by that mean old dirty wind now I guess I’m gonna have to write that letter all over again but anyway it ain’t like I got something better to do i got nothing better to do gonna write that letter write that letter all over again all over again |
This song was directly inspired by a photo, entitled "U.S. 30 between Ogallala and North Platte, Nebraska", taken by the pioneering photographer Robert Frank, in 1955 or 56, a year or two before I was born. The photo moves me deeply. It appears on this page, just below the lyrics.
Please listen to the studio recording of
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