HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE: A GRITTY POP-ROCK ANTHEM OF FREEDOM AND CONSEQUENCE
"Highway Maintenance" is a mid-tempo pop-rock track that blends the raw energy of punk with the introspective edge of alternative rock. With its driving rhythm and evocative male vocals, the song paints a vivid narrative of life on the open road, where freedom and responsibility collide. The lyrics weave together stories of fleeting moments—a worker fixing roads at dawn, a young woman chasing a night of celebration, and the haunting aftermath of choices made in the heat of the moment.
The A56 highway serves as both a literal and metaphorical backdrop, symbolizing the journey of life with its highs, lows, and unexpected turns. Lines like “The highway gives and it takes away” and “Freedom comes with a price to pay” underscore the song’s central theme: every choice carries weight, and the road doesn’t forgive carelessness. The gritty imagery—burning tarmac, silver skies, and shattered dreams—pairs with a catchy, anthemic chorus that’s equal parts reflective and rebellious.
Musically, expect punchy guitar riffs and a steady drumbeat that mirror the song’s restless spirit, with the vocalist’s raw delivery adding emotional depth to the tales of loss, defiance, and destiny. It’s a track that feels like cruising through a foggy dawn, windows down, with the bittersweet taste of life lingering in the air—a perfect fit for fans of classic rock storytelling with a modern punk twist.
Highway Maintenance
I can almost clearly see the road again
Now the fog has cleared on the A56
5 in the morning and I’m on my way
For yet another fix
You can hear the echoes of the ambulance
As another dream shatters in the rail
The burning tarmac leaves a stinging haze
When the job is done, get back on our way
The winter sun hangs low in silver skies
As she fixes her hair in the rearview mirror
She’s got herself a little birthday gig
Across the city tonight
Her friends are waiting wearing golden smiles
And they’re having a few of gin and Tequila Rose
She’s speeding down the road without a care
If only she did know
It wasn’t a young boy’s dream
As much as a wake up call
My daddy said: ‘’Make your own way, my daddy told me the same.’’
You see I wasn’t a grade A whizz
As much as a Jokerman
If only I took my mum’s advice
Make a living in medicine
Across the city a mother weeps:
‘’She didn’t come home last night. I thought that I raised her right, and gave her dough for a taxi ride.’’
Of course it wasn’t just circumstance
Or juvenile ignorance
Her daddy stood up and shouted out
But turned to stone when a knock came on the door
You say that you got no fear
For failure or consequence
If you leave the world behind
Can you imagine your loved ones’ pain instead
When the sun has set
A misadventure ends
Moon and stars collide
A victim of the night
Was her precious life
But a waste of time?
Did they not see the signs?
Did they just not suffice?
Was it just a game?
Society to blame?
Won’t you tell us why
Why’d you leave us behind?
Would you please tell us why?
You’re mum and daddy’s pride
Why won’t you tell us why?
Why don’t you tell us why?
A man is free, as free as the road ahead (Highway Maintenance)
But freedom comes with a price to pay (Highway Maintenance)
Like responsibility to you and your fellow man (Highway Maintenance)
The highway gives and it takes away (Highway Maintenance)
The highway life is the life for me (Highway Maintenance)
I’m speeding towards my destiny (Highway Maintenance)
It’s all in a day’s work for, all in a day’s work for Highway Maintenance
Music & Lyrics: Vincent Julien Le Blanc