About the song
Bob Seger’s “Turn the Page” is more than just a rock anthem; it’s a poignant reflection on the life of a traveling musician. Released in 1973, the song wasn’t initially a hit, but its raw honesty and depiction of the road’s weariness resonated deeply, propelling it to classic rock radio mainstay status.
The song’s inspiration stemmed from a series of seemingly insignificant encounters. In 1972, on a snowy tour with Teegarden & Van Winkle, Seger and his band faced ridicule for their long hair at a truck stop. This incident, along with countless others, fueled the frustration and isolation that permeate “Turn the Page.”
Seger’s lyrics paint a vivid picture of a musician’s life: the endless highway, the cold that clings after leaving the car, the judgmental stares in unfamiliar places. He masterfully captures the yearning for home and the weariness that sets in after years on the road. But “Turn the Page” transcends the experience of musicians. It resonates with anyone who has ever felt like an outsider, ostracized for their appearance or simply longing for a sense of belonging.
The song’s instrumentation further amplifies the emotions. The mournful saxophone melody, inspired by Alto Reed’s vision of a lonely New York City night, sets the scene. The pulsating Mellotron adds another layer of melancholy, perfectly complementing Seger’s raw vocals.
“Turn the Page” is more than just a song; it’s a shared experience. It’s the anthem of the weary traveler, the misunderstood outsider, and anyone who has ever dreamt of a life beyond the horizon, only to find the road itself a lonely companion.
Video
Lyrics
On a long and lonesome highway
East of Omaha
You can listen to the engines moanin’
Out this one-note song
You’d think about the woman
Or the girl you knew the night before
But your thoughts will soon be wanderin’
The way they always do
When you’re ridin’ 16 hours
There’s nothin’ much to do
And you don’t feel much like ridin’
You just wish the trip was through
Here I am, on the road again
There I am, up on the stage
There I go playin’ the star again
There I go, turn the page
So you walk into this restaurant
All strung out from the road
And you feel the eyes upon you
As you’re shakin’ off the cold
You pretend it doesn’t bother you
But you just want to explode
Yeah, 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
You don’t dare make a stand
Make your stand
Here I am, on the road again
There I am, up on the stage
Here I go playin’ the star again
There I go, turn the page
Oh-oh, out there in the spotlight
You’re a million miles away
Every ounce of energy
You try and give away
As the sweat pours out your body
Like the music that you play, yeah
Later in the evenin’
As you lie awake in bed
With the echoes of the amplifiers
Ringin’ in your head
You smoke the day’s last cigarette
Rememberin’ what she said
What she said
Yeah, and here I am, on the road again
There I am, up on the stage
Here I go playin’ the star again
There I go, turn the page
And there I go
Turn that page
There I go, yeah, yeah
There I go, yeah, yeah
Here I go, yeah
Here I go, yeah
There I go
There I go
And I’m gone