Behind the Song Lyrics and Meaning of “Red Dirt Road” by Brooks & Dunn

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Whilst nation duo Brooks & Dunn have scored 20 No. 1 hits during the last 3 many years, “Purple Filth Highway” tells the tale of the place all of it started. Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn wrote the track in combination, encapsulating convenience tinged with remorseful about when coming house after a very long time away. The lyrics are achingly nostalgic, recalling fond reminiscences from rising up on a literal purple dust highway.  

I used to be raised off of rural course 3
Out previous the place the blacktop ends
We’d stroll to church on Sunday morning
And race barefoot again to Johnson’s fence

Brooks & Dunn launched “Purple Filth Highway” in 2003 on an album of the similar title. They have been struck with the foundation for the track whilst they have been on excursion in combination in 2002. After completing a display, the duo used to be sitting at the excursion bus when Dunn started enjoying round with the lyrics for the refrain. He fondly recalled reminiscences of his formative years and circle of relatives again in Arkansas. 

“It led from Rural Course 3 which used to be East Major freeway out of El Dorado right down to my cousin’s farm,” Dunn mentioned in an interview. “It used to be about 4 miles lengthy, however there have been handiest two properties alongside the way in which… However we grew up on that highway. That used to be the place all of it went down.”

Dunn instructed Brooks all about his upbringing, from evangelists who visited his church to sneaking beers together with his buddies. The refrain used to be completed earlier than the excursion bus even took off.

It’s the place I drank my first beer
It’s the place I discovered Jesus
The place I wrecked my first automotive
I tore all of it to items
I discovered the trail to heaven
Is filled with sinners and believers

Brooks took the theory for the track and ran with it. The use of the refrain Dunn had written, he labored tirelessly at the verses. By the point they reached the following prevent at the excursion, the track used to be completed. “[Brooks] performed it, took us up at the bus. He used to be simply beat guy, like he’d been up for 2 days. He truly plowed into it,” Dunn mentioned. 

Some of the putting portions of “Purple Filth Highway” is the that means at the back of the affection tale. The narrator falls in love together with his formative years good friend named Mary. Once they have been younger, they imagined the longer term they might have in combination in that the city they grew up in. 

I’d sneak out in the midst of the evening
Throw rocks at her bed room window
We’d end up the headlights
And pressure through the moonlight
Discuss what the longer term may dangle
Down that purple dust highway

It turns into transparent later within the track that lifestyles didn’t cross the way in which that they deliberate. The narrator left town, and their courting ended. Alternatively, the that means of the track is all concerning the bittersweet feeling of homecoming. He and Mary discovered their as far back as one any other, even supposing their lifestyles is other than they pictured it as youngsters.  

I went out into the sector
And I got here again in
I misplaced Mary
Oh, I were given her again once more
And using house this night
It seems like I discovered an extended misplaced good friend

The tale is a testomony to Brooks and Dunn’s improbable songwriting skills. Whilst this romance isn’t essentially according to reality, it hones in on the truth that coming house isn’t at all times completely comforting. It may additionally carry up regrets and errors—reminders that we don’t seem to be the blameless youngsters we as soon as have been. 

However, the track continues to be so upbeat that it makes the listener wish to dance and rejoice their lifestyles— the great, the dangerous, and the unpleasant. The hard-to-swallow tablet is delivered in any such feel-good track with a cheerful finishing. The tough portions of the adventure are provide, however Brooks & Dunn remind us that that isn’t what defines our expansion. 

“Purple Filth Highway” attracts from lots of Dunn’s private reports, however any individual can recognize the topics of rising up and reflecting on “the great outdated days.” We will glance again wistfully and want lets do it all over the place once more, however the long term is all we have now actually. Brooks & Dunn remind us that whilst we will be able to by no means return to the way in which lifestyles used to be, we nonetheless lift the reminiscences with us, and the ones won’t ever trade. 

I’ve come to grasp there’s lifestyles at each ends
Of that purple dust highway

Photograph through Jason Kempin/Getty Pictures.

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