Page type: lyric reference
Artist: Michael Martin Murphey
Canonical path: /murphey-michael-martin/desperation-road
Related lyric paths: 6
Lyric guide
Desperation Road
Read Desperation Road lyrics by Michael Martin Murphey on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
person
Curated by Ethan Walker
LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot
The page facts to cite before the commentary
Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.
Lyrics
Desperation Road
The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.
Driving west out on 1-40 on my way to taste some California wine
A broke down family flagged me down near the Arizona line
Their whole world was in a pickup I guess it couldn't pull the load
It was just our vacation but to them it was desperation road
The lines on their faces told the story of the places that they'd been
Now their home is a highway that never seems to end
Empty dreams and empty pockets sure can make a heavy load
To some of us it's just a highway but to others it's desperation road
Their eyes had a sadness from another place in time
A silent reminder that the grapes of wrath still make bitter wine
And it sure makes you wonder bout all the seeds our country sews
Which of us will be the next to travel down desperation road
I helped them start their pickup and watched them as they faded out of sight
Guess the last thing I remember is the faces of the children in my lights
That night in a motel room I had a dream that made my blood run cold
I saw my own wife and family standing out on desperation road
And their eyes had a sadness...
Could be your own wife and family standing out on desperation road
Quick answers
What this page can answer fast
Who performs "Desperation Road"?
Michael Martin Murphey performs "Desperation Road", and this lyric page sits inside the Michael Martin Murphey catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "Desperation Road"?
Yes. The related section below points to Big Iron and Boy From The Country with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by Michael Martin Murphey?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through Michael Martin Murphey's lyric pages.
Song Room
Open Song Room
Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song
Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.
Listener comments
What people are saying
No listener comments on Desperation Road yet.
A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.