In the early 20th century, a ragtag band of outlaws traversed the central US flagrantly committing robberies, holding people at gunpoint, and randomly perpetrating atrocities upon law-abiding citizens. Although this sounds like something from a movie, these characters in American history were real, and, despite their illegal and reprehensible acts, have come to be regarded iconically in American culture: Bonnie and Clyde Barrow. It’s not so much that Bonnie and Clyde’s crimes are forgivable; rather their conduct is overlooked because they are viewed sympathetically--flawed, yes, but acting on impulse, as a unified pair taking on the rest of the world. Robert Earl Keen’s “The Road Goes on Forever” chronicles the adventures of a similar couple:
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Hedonism, while normally seen as a bad thing, in this song is expressed as almost necessary, and I believe it’s the main idea. Sherry and Sonny are just figureheads, characters created for the purpose of expressing that idea rather than focusing entirely on their own feelings and thoughts. This is part of the reason why the song is written in third person. We are envisioning these characters entirely on what they did, not what they were thinking of doing or didn’t do. However, this raises a question: As Sonny’s honorable intentions seemed to be quite clear, what were Sherry’s? Was this just a plot of hers for personal gain? The only line in the song that expresses Sonny being of emotional value to Sherry is the one depicting her grabbing his hand as he runs out of the bar, and even this could be viewed as her assuming, because of Sonny’s reputation, that she would gain something while having a good time with him. But, the point of the song is exactly that: nothing more than having a good time, and I believe no matter her intentions, she did nothing explicitly evil to Sonny, and she should not be spited. “The road goes on forever, and the party never ends” is the line which, when combined with the music, sums up the sentiment expressed throughout the entire song: that life is a never-ending party, and we should not fight it; instead, run with
Hedonism, while normally seen as a bad thing, in this song is expressed as almost necessary, and I believe it’s the main idea. Sherry and Sonny are just figureheads, characters created for the purpose of expressing that idea rather than focusing entirely on their own feelings and thoughts. This is part of the reason why the song is written in third person. We are envisioning these characters entirely on what they did, not what they were thinking of doing or didn’t do. However, this raises a question: As Sonny’s honorable intentions seemed to be quite clear, what were Sherry’s? Was this just a plot of hers for personal gain? The only line in the song that expresses Sonny being of emotional value to Sherry is the one depicting her grabbing his hand as he runs out of the bar, and even this could be viewed as her assuming, because of Sonny’s reputation, that she would gain something while having a good time with him. But, the point of the song is exactly that: nothing more than having a good time, and I believe no matter her intentions, she did nothing explicitly evil to Sonny, and she should not be spited. “The road goes on forever, and the party never ends” is the line which, when combined with the music, sums up the sentiment expressed throughout the entire song: that life is a never-ending party, and we should not fight it; instead, run with