Music

Five Miles Outside Monroe   Year: 1994 | Run Time: 3:05

Written by Bill Mallonee for Irving Music, Inc., Allegiance Music, Russachugama Music and CyBrenJoJosh (BMI) ©1995

five miles outside of monroe
they said man there just been killed
say you don't wanna talk about it much
twenty dollars says you will
i thought we made some progress
we stayed up 'til the dawn
i thought we made some progress
oh then again i could be wrong

five miles outside of monroe
you're drumming your fingers on the dashboard
otis redding's on the radio
he's always so lonely at the dock of the bay
i thought we made some progress
with the advent of a kiss
i thought we made some progress
oh then again it was just a wish

on and on brick by brick
i come and build my house
while i try to get real good
at putting words in people's mouths
one day when the bottom drops out
we'll lay this thing to rest
the truth sleeping like dynamite
inside this paper flesh

phone calls have been placed
letters have been sent
we've been trying to determine the exact nature of
your critical involvement
five miles outside of monroe
there's static on the dispatch
freedom there's a holy word
but there's a simple catch

Did You Know?

A song about racism, Bill has described this as a song about the misuse of the stars and bars. The location, "five miles outside Monroe," refers to the town of Gratis, Georgia; specifically Lee Moody's barn, which Bill has used as a rehearsal space for many years, going back to a previous band he was in called "Bed of Roses." The line about Otis Redding is one of Bill's favorite lines.

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