Lyrics
I've laid around and played around
I've spent too much time idling and fooling around in this town
this old town too long
It's been an extended period of lounging in this town
Summer's almost gone,
The summer season is almost over
yes winter's coming on
Winter is approaching
I've laid around and played around
Repeated sentiment of spending too much time in the town
this old town too long
Continued emphasis on staying too long in the town
And I feel like I gotta travel on
Expressing a strong desire to embark on a journey
Well, Poppa writes to Johnny,
A father communicates with Johnny, who is unable to return home
but Johnny can't come home
Johnny is unable to come back home
Johnny can't come home, no Johnny can't come home
Reiteration of Johnny's inability to come home
Poppa writes to Johnny,
Continuation of the father writing to Johnny
but Johnny can't come home
Repeated statement that Johnny can't come home due to being on the chain gang
'Cause he's been on the chain gang, too long.
Johnny's prolonged incarceration on the chain gang is emphasized
I've laid around and played around
Reiteration of staying too long in the town
this old town too long
Restating the extended duration spent in the town
Summer's almost gone,
Reference to the changing seasons, with winter approaching
yes winter's coming on
Emphasis on the impending arrival of winter
I've laid around and played around
Continued expression of spending too much time in the town
this old town too long
Reiteration of the desire to embark on a journey
And I feel like I gotta travel on
Strong feeling that the speaker needs to travel
High sheriff and police riding after me
The high sheriff and police are pursuing the speaker
Riding after me, yea coming after me
Reinforcement of law enforcement chasing after the speaker
High sheriff and police are riding after me
Continued emphasis on the pursuit by the high sheriff and police
And I feel like I gotta travel on.
Feeling compelled to travel as a result of being pursued
I Want to see my honey, want to see her bad
Expressing a strong desire to reunite with a loved one
Want to see her bad, yeah want to see her bad
Reiteration of the strong longing to see the loved one
I Want to see my honey, want to see her bad
Continued expression of the desire to see the loved one
She's the best girl, this poor boy ever had.
Describing the loved one as the best the speaker has ever had
I've laid around and played around
Reiteration of staying too long in the town
this old town too long
Restating the extended duration spent in the town
Summer's almost gone,
Reference to the changing seasons, with winter approaching
yes winter's coming on
Emphasis on the impending arrival of winter
I've laid around and played around
Continued expression of spending too much time in the town
this old town too long
Reiteration of the desire to embark on a journey
And I feel like I gotta travel on
Strong feeling that the speaker needs to travel
Yes I feel like I gotta travel on
Final affirmation of the speaker's strong urge to travel
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