I never get lonely
I got these ghosts to keep me company
I took the rearview off of this old Ford so I only see in front of me
Now the past is out of sight and out of mind
Swore I changed, now I'm back chasing these white lines
I'm just a long-haired son of a sinner
Searching for new ways I can get gone
I'm a pedal to the highway if you ever wonder why we write these songs
'Cause I'm only one drink away from the Devil
I'm only one call away from home
Yeah, I'm somewhere in the middle
I guess I'm just a little
Right and wrong
These backroads got me
These pills pretend to be my friend
I'm done for the last time
I'm lying to myself again
I always say that
Now I'm on my way back here somehow
I should know by now
I'm just a long-haired son of a sinner
Searching for new ways I can get gone
I'm a pedal to the highway if you ever wonder why we write these songs
'Cause I'm only one drink away from the Devil
I'm only one call away from home
Yeah, I'm somewhere in the middle
I guess I'm just a little
Right and wrong
Mistakes I made I paid for them in cash
Walked a million miles on broken glass
I'm feeling like I'm fading
My heart's been slowing breaking
Might pop a pill, and smoke and maybe drink
Talk to God and tell him what I think
At first He's gonna hate me
But eventually He'll save me
I'm just a long-haired son of a sinner
Searching for new ways I can get gone
I'm a pedal to the highway if you ever wonder why we write these songs
'Cause I'm only one drink away from the Devil
I'm only one call away from home
Yeah, I'm somewhere in the middle
I guess I'm just a little
Right and wrong
In "Son of a Sinner," Jelly Roll talks about his struggles with addiction and the demons that haunt him. He admits that he is not bothered by loneliness, as he is always accompanied by his "ghosts," which represent his past mistakes and addiction. He removed the rearview mirror of his old Ford to focus solely on the present and the future. However, even though he has promised himself that he has changed, he finds himself chasing the same old habits again, represented by the white lines on the road.
The chorus of the song continues this theme, with Jelly Roll describing himself as a "long-haired son of a sinner" who is constantly searching for new ways to escape. He admits that he is only one drink away from succumbing to the Devil's temptation and one phone call away from returning home to his loved ones. The line "somewhere in the middle, I guess I'm just a little right and wrong" acknowledges that he is not a perfect person and that he is constantly battling his inner demons.
In the second verse, Jelly Roll talks about how his addiction has affected his life. He admits to making mistakes and paying for them with cash, walking a million miles on broken glass. He feels himself fading and his heart slowly breaking, and sometimes he uses pills, smoking, and drinking to cope. However, he also talks about talking to God and acknowledging his faults, knowing that while God may hate him at first, he will ultimately save him.
Overall, "Son of a Sinner" is a brutally honest and raw depiction of Jelly Roll's struggles with addiction and the consequences of his choices. The song acknowledges that while he may be imperfect, he is constantly working towards a better future.
I never get lonely
I am surrounded by my ghosts, so I do not experience loneliness.
I got these ghosts to keep me company
My past mistakes and regrets haunt me and are a constant presence in my life.
I took the rearview off of this old Ford so I only see in front of me
I have deliberately removed the option to look back on my past actions so that I may move forward freely.
Now the past is out of sight and out of mind
By removing the rearview mirror, I have created an environment in which I can forget my past mistakes and regrets.
Swore I changed, now I'm back chasing these white lines
Despite my pledge to reform my ways, I am still struggling with addiction and constantly chasing my next fix.
I'm just a long-haired son of a sinner
I am the offspring of someone who consistently makes morally questionable decisions.
Searching for new ways I can get gone
I am constantly looking for new drugs or methods of escape to provide temporary relief from my inner demons.
I'm a pedal to the highway if you ever wonder why we write these songs
I use music as an outlet to express my struggles and explain why I am always on the run.
'Cause I'm only one drink away from the Devil
My addiction is controlling me and I am only one drink away from spiraling further into darkness.
I'm only one call away from home
My family is always there for me, no matter how far I stray from my responsibilities and obligations.
Yeah, I'm somewhere in the middle
I am neither fully good nor fully bad; rather, I exist in the gray area between the two.
I guess I'm just a littleRight and wrong
I am a mixture of both good and bad, and I can never fully commit to one side or the other.
These backroads got me
I am lost and unsure of where I am going.
These pills pretend to be my friend
Drugs can provide temporary relief but ultimately harm and hinder my progress.
I'm done for the last time
I am reaching a breaking point and need to make permanent changes to my lifestyle.
I'm lying to myself again
Despite my efforts to reform, I continue to deceive myself and engage in harmful activities.
I always say that
I have made similar promises to change in the past but have ultimately failed.
Now I'm on my way back here somehow
Despite my best efforts to improve my life, I am still falling back into my old patterns of behavior.
I should know by now
Despite repeated failures, part of me continues to hold onto the hope that I can change and start over.
Mistakes I made I paid for them in cash
I have suffered real-world consequences for my choices and actions.
Walked a million miles on broken glass
I have endured significant pain and suffering as a result of my past decisions.
I'm feeling like I'm fading
Despair is setting in as I struggle to overcome my addictions and negative habits.
My heart's been slowing breaking
I am experiencing emotional pain and heartbreak as a result of my past mistakes.
Might pop a pill, and smoke and maybe drink
Despite knowing the harm they can cause, I am struggling to resist the pull of addictive substances.
Talk to God and tell him what I think
As a last resort, I turn to prayer to seek guidance and make sense of my problems.
At first He's gonna hate me
I feel guilty and ashamed of the bad things I have done, and worry that God will judge me harshly for them.
But eventually He'll save me
I hope that by confessing my sins and seeking forgiveness, I will be able to find redemption and start anew.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc. Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Written by: David Ray Stevens, Ernest Keith Smith, Jason Deford