On a long and lonesome highway, east of Omaha
You can listen to the engine moanin’ out its one-note song
You can think about the woman, or the girl you knew the night before
But your thoughts will soon be wandering, the way they always do
When you’re riding sixteen hours and there’s nothing there to do
And you don’t feel much like riding, you just wish the trip was through
Here I am, on a road again
There I am, on the stage
Here I go, playing star again
There I go, turn the page
Well, you walk into a restaurant all strung-out from the road
And you feel the eyes upon you as you’re shaking off the cold
You pretend it doesn’t bother you, but you just want to explode
Most times you can’t hear ’em talk, other times you can
All the same old clichés, is it woman, is it man?
And you always seem outnumbered, so you don’t dare make a stand
Here I am, on a road again
There I am, on the stage
Here I go, playing star again
There I go, turn the page
Out there in the spotlight you’re a million miles away
Every ounce of energy you try to give away
As the sweat pours out your body like the music that you play
Later in the evening as you lie awake in bed
With the echoes from the amplifiers ringin’ in your head
You smoke the day’s last cigarette, remembering what she said
Here I am, on a road again
There I am, up on the stage
Here I go, playing star again
There I go, turn the page
Here I am, on a road again
There I am, on the stage, yeah
Here I go, playing star again
There I go, there I go
Life on the Road: The Heart of “Turn The Page”
“Turn The Page” by Bob Seger is a powerful reflection on the emotional toll of life as a touring musician. The song paints vivid imagery of long, lonely highways and the relentless demands of the road. Seger’s lyrics capture the longing for comfort and the alienation felt when constantly moving from place to place. The repeated phrase, “Here I am, on the road again,” becomes a mantra for perseverance, highlighting the cyclical nature of performance and travel.
Behind the Spotlight
The song delves into the duality between the public persona and private struggles of an artist. Seger explores moments of vulnerability offstage—walking into restaurants, enduring judgment, and lying awake with only memories and the lingering buzz of amplifiers. These moments contrast sharply with the energy and connection found under the spotlight, emphasizing the sacrifices made for the sake of music.
Song Credits
Songwriter: Bob Seger
Release Year: 1973
Label: Capitol Records