Travelling…………….On The Road Again

'Makin' music with my friends’ ( Song - Willie Nelson 1980)

Recently, whilst I was editing a section of one of my Around the World In 90 Days Newsletters where I indicated that, due to the constant moving, I had felt tired, what tune should come onto the radio – “On the Road Again”. This resulted in an earworm that, after actively listening to the lyrics, made me think, “how appropriate!”.

Specifically –

‘And I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again..’

Nearly like my Mantra….remember in Issue # 12 where I said I was trying everything as I mightn’t get back again!

Then further on –

‘Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way
And our way
Is on the road again..’

I’m sure you have also made friends when on bus trips, especially as a tourist as you have at least one thing in common – that tour.

Willie Nelson wrote these lyrics in 1980 for the film ‘Honeysuckle Rose’.  It also became his de facto touring song.  Some people assumed both the song and the film were autobiographical.  But he has denied that.  It is said the lyrics were more about abandoning the life he was in, to find something better.

Looking back now, I believe that I was also ‘running away’ – from my work that was consuming me, from the grief of losing my mother and losing my beautiful cat – Anastasia, when I took off on 4^th June 2004 on my adventure.

One of the positives of writing and reviewing newsletters is it makes you reflect.  After writing my newsletter about Grey Nomads I thought I could easily adapt to this lifestyle of being ‘on the road again’. The Romani/Gipsies with caravaning nomadic lifestyle were the first ‘Goin' places that I've never been; Seein' things that I may never see again’  But historical evidence indicates they were a happy ‘band’.

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Just as an aside maybe a caravaning nomadic lifestyle could be a solution to the housing crisis and for some places, especially rural towns, to help solve staffing shortages.

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Maybe also, if we started ‘makin' music with my friends’ we would have more fun, be more spontaneous and think about changing our world to be more harmonious.

For those who like the experience of a musical earworm, I listed the lyrics below for you to sing your own version at the top of your voice if that will give you joy.

One, two, a one, two, three, four

On the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is making music with my friendsAnd I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again

On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way
And our way
Is on the road again
I just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again

On the road again
Like a band of gypsies we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turning our way
And our way
Is on the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again

I hope you are seeing things that you have never seen, and making music with your friends and I’m looking forward to seeing you - as we continue on my highway – Around the World in 90 Days.