Hellbent for Leather
Hellbent Escape: Rock Gypsies Leave City of Angels
Lyrics
The fly by night carnival is closing down
The temporary and ephemeral carnival is shutting down.
Time to get off this merry go round
It's time to leave this constant and predictable cycle.
Kids and rubes have left the fairgrounds
The children and naive people have left the fairgrounds.
The rock and roll gypsies are getting' out of town
The itinerant rock and roll performers are leaving the town.
Northeastern Oklahoma is calling my name
Northeastern Oklahoma is inviting the speaker to leave.
Gettin' off the grid and the old shell game
Escaping societal norms and deceitful practices.
Gonna transcend like Henry David Thoreau
Striving for a transcendental experience like Thoreau.
And listen to sweetheart of the rodeo
Listens to classic country music (Sweetheart of the Rodeo).
So long city of angels
Bidding farewell to Los Angeles, known as the City of Angels.
Goodbye Sunset and Vine
Leaving the iconic Sunset and Vine intersection.
I'm leaving for Oklahoma
The speaker is departing for Oklahoma.
Adios Hollywood sign
Saying goodbye to the famous Hollywood sign.
The Warners record deal fell apart in L.A
The record deal with Warner Bros. disintegrated in Los Angeles.
The technicolor life turned battleship grey
The vibrant and colorful life turned dull and bleak.
It was like I was Daniel in the lion's den
Feeling like Daniel in a challenging situation.
Except no spirit appeared to save my skin
No divine intervention saved the speaker from troubles.
So I'm leaving here with the girl who shimmies
Leaving with a girl who is flashy and demanding.
With her black eye liner and her handful of gimme
Describing the girl with black eyeliner and a sense of entitlement.
Taking a twin reverb with two blown speakers
Carrying a malfunctioning amplifier with blown speakers.
Wearing my John Varvatos converse sneakers
Wearing designer sneakers by John Varvatos.
So long city of angels
Saying farewell again to Los Angeles.
Goodbye Sunset and Vine
Another goodbye to Sunset and Vine.
I'm leaving for Oklahoma
Reiterating the departure for Oklahoma.
Adios Hollywood sign
Once more, bidding farewell to the Hollywood sign.
Gram Parsons was right about the thirty-first floor
Referring to Gram Parsons' belief about the 31st floor as ominous.
The earth is shaking and I can't take it no more
Feeling overwhelmed as the world seems to crumble.
So I'm heading due east hellbent for leather
Heading urgently and recklessly eastward.
Might even get the band back together
Contemplating reuniting with the band in the pursuit of this journey.
So long city of angels
Final goodbye to the City of Angels.
Goodbye Sunset and Vine
A parting nod to Sunset and Vine.
I'm leaving for Oklahoma
The speaker is leaving for Oklahoma.
Adios Hollywood sign
A final farewell to the iconic Hollywood sign.
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