Place to the Name
Unveiling the Forgotten Stories: A Journey Through Abandoned Lanes
Lyrics
Down the dusty Mill Lane there’s no grain left to grind
Describes a desolate Mill Lane with no grain left for grinding.
And the old Farmer’s Road left with no hay to bind
Highlights the absence of hay to bind on the old Farmer’s Road.
No sign of the families that once lined these roads
Notices the disappearance of families that once lived along these roads.
Foundations hidden in fields overgrown
Refers to hidden foundations in fields overgrown, symbolizing forgotten history.
The School Road is quiet- no laughter resounds
Describes the quietness of School Road with no laughter, as buses pass by.
The buses ride past it with kids bound for town
Children now take buses to town as the schoolhouse is gone.
They can’t walk to school for their schoolhouse is gone
Emphasizes the absence of the schoolhouse, making walking to school impossible.
A lone rusty swing-set still sways on the lawn
Points out a lonely rusty swing-set that remains on the lawn, a nostalgic image.
These back roads are richer than highways so smooth
Contrasts back roads with highways, suggesting richness in history and stories.
Old stories are woven within every groove
Notes the weaving of old stories within the grooves of these back roads.
On these tired little lanes, only road signs remain
Highlights the presence of only road signs on these tired lanes.
For you can’t put a place to the name
Expresses the difficulty of associating a place with a name.
No you can’t put a place to the name
Reiterates the challenge of putting a place to the name.
There’s a wharf at the end of the Cannery Road
Mentions a wharf at the end of Cannery Road with weathered shanties.
Where wind-weathered shanties still wait for the loads
Describes shanties waiting for loads, evoking memories of cannery days.
The old folks remember the cannery days
Recalls the nostalgia of the older generation for the days of lobster-filled boats.
When boats full of lobster sailed in to the bay
Reflects on the richness of back roads compared to smooth highways.
These back roads are richer than highways so smooth
Reiterates the idea of stories woven within the grooves of these back roads.
Old stories are woven within every groove
Restates the presence of only road signs on these tired lanes.
On these tired little lanes, only road signs remain
Reemphasizes the challenge of putting a place to the name.
For you can’t put a place to the name
Reiterates the difficulty of associating a place with a name.
No you can’t put a place to the name
Repeated confirmation of the challenge in connecting a place to the name.
Down the old Station Road rides a boy on a bike
Describes a boy riding a bike down old Station Road.
He stops by the trailside and picks up a spike
Observes the boy picking up a railroad spike, symbolizing a connection to the past.
A piece of the railroad he clutches with care
Notes the boy's careful handling of the railroad piece, suggesting reverence.
A ghost whistle howls in the cool evening air
Imagines a ghost whistle howling in the evening air, evoking a sense of nostalgia.
Tonight as I drift down this highway so smooth
Shifts to the present, passing by smooth highways while drifting down the road.
I pass by the back roads, their dusty red grooves
Passes the back roads with dusty red grooves, emphasizing their distinct character.
On these tired little lanes, only road signs remain
Reiterates the presence of only road signs on these tired lanes.
For you can’t put a place to the name
Reemphasizes the challenge of putting a place to the name.
No you can’t put a place to the name
Final confirmation of the difficulty in connecting a place to the name.
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