Tom T. Hall：Meaning of Highways Songmeaning

The song Highways by Tom T. Hall is about a person who travels on highways and roads to go everywhere they want to go, except for one place that is in the "quiet places in the shadows of your mind". This refers to a person they love deeply but cannot reach because they are not able to understand their thoughts and feelings. The "beaten path of common words" and language used by the general public is not enough to express the love they have for this person. They are unable to penetrate the "standard" and "average" emotions of society, and instead, their love transcends these limited expressions of affection. Despite traveling on highways that take them over mountains, valleys, and plains, the person is unable to reach the heart of their loved one, leaving them feeling empty and searching in vain. Overall, Highways is a touching song that speaks to the difficulty of expressing deep emotions and the struggle to connect with someone who is on a different wavelength.