Lyrics Jerry Jeff Walker

Jerry Jeff Walker

The Wheel

If I took a rollin' wheel

And rolled it ten times round

Would it travel far from here

Or would it just go round

Round and Round

As a young boy I helped the old man

Workin' in the fields

And everyday, we hauled the hay

To the rollin' of the wheels

'Til one day the tractor laid

The old man down to the ground

The tractor pitched him into a ditch and

Left a dusty sound

Of the wheel that kept spinnin' round

The wheel that kept spinnin' round

Rollin' wheel, rollin' on

Takin' us all on our way

Rollin' wheel, rollin' on

Takin back all that they gave

Takin' us all on our way

Takin' back all that they save

I've never knew my father well

The war called him too soon

Said he was an officer

Saw some pictures in my room

The letter said he was reported dead

Near the front lines he'd been found

A mine blew his jeep into a twisted heep

And I still hear the sound

Of the wheel that kept spinnin' round.

Rollin' wheel, rollin' on

Takin' us all on our way

Rollin' wheels, rollin' on

Takin' us all to the grave

Takin' back all that they save

Takin' us all on our way

My brother chased a dream of wheels

His whole life geared for the race

As soon as he could, he drove off for good

His whole life was short, quick, and straight

He only lived to spin those wheels

And make that move over ground

'Til the steering failed and he crashed the rail

And he laid there still for the sounds

Of the wheel that kept spinning round.

Rollin' wheel, they're rollin' on

Takin' us all on our way

The rollin' wheels, rollin' on

Takin' back all that they gave

Takin' us all on our way

Takin' back all that they say

As for me, my life's too short

The wheel has carried my far

Around this world 100 times

By bus, truck, train, bike , or car (???)

And just like the rest I roll on to my death

On a country road far from town

I stare by the wheel just as sure as I feel

That there won't be but one sound

That's the wheel that keeps spinning round

Yeah the wheel that keeps spinning round

Rollin wheels, rollin' on

Takin us all on our way

The rollin' wheels, rollin' on

Takin' back all that they say

Takin us all on our way

Takin' us all on our way

The rollin' wheels, yeah rollin' on

Takin' back all that they gave

Takin' us all on our way