Song of the Week – Motel Blues, Loudon Wainwright III & Sitting in My Hotel, The Kinks

Ignored           Obscured            Restored

There are dozens of songs written by rock bands about life on the road.  To name a few…

“Load Out”                              Jackson Browne

“Torn and Frayed”                   Rolling Stones

“Movin’ On”                             Bad Company

“Travelin’ Band”                      Creedence Clearwater Revival

“We’re an American Band”      Grand Funk

I’m familiar with a couple of relatively obscure “road” songs that chronicle life on the road with a different tone.  They are more emotionally impactful and depressing – and that’s what I like about them.

The first is “Motel Blues” by Loudon Wainwright III.

In this town television shuts off at two
What can a lonely rock and roller do?
The bed’s so big and the sheets are clean
Your girlfriend said that you were 19
The styrofoam ice bucket’s full of ice
Come up to my motel room, treat me nice

And ends…

There’s a Bible in the drawer don’t be afraid
I’ll put up the sign to warn the cleanup maid
There’s lots of soap and lots of towels
Never mind those desk clerk’s scowls
I’ll buy you breakfast, they’ll think you’re my wife
Come up to my motel room, save my life

Another is “Sitting in My Hotel” by the Kinks.

If my friends could see me now, driving round just like a film star,
In a chauffeur driven jam jar, they would laugh.
They would all be saying that it’s not really me,
They would all be asking who I’m trying to be.
If my friends could see me now,
Looking out my hotel window,
Dressed in satin strides and two-tone daisy roots,
If my friends could see me now I know they would smile.

Sitting in my hotel, hiding from the dramas of this great big world,
Seven stories high, looking at the world go by-y.
Sitting in my hotel room, thinking about the countryside and sunny days in June.
Trying to hide the gloom, sitting in my hotel room.

For those of you not up on your British slang, daisy roots are boots.

Apparently, life on the road isn’t all fun and games and often result in loneliness and isolation.

Enjoy… until next week.

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