Ominous Feelings as Colter Wall Delivers With “Sleeping on the Blacktop”

Canadian country music singer and songwriter Colter Wall once again delivered his narrative writing style in “Sleeping on the Blacktop.”

Wall released the piece as part of his 2015 EP album, Imaginary Appalachia.

Colter Wall said he used to listen to Johnny Cash and rock music when he was younger. Later, he started listening to blues and folk music and eventually fell in love with country music. He started playing the guitar when he was 13, and when he heard Bob Dylan’s “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right,” he was inspired to create and write music instead of playing the instruments.

He cited George Jones, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson, and Townes Van Zandt as his early musical influences.

Meaning Behind Sleeping on the Blacktop

Colter Wall’s “Sleeping on the Blacktop” starts with an ominous guitar strumming accompanied by the drum’s beating. The song’s lyrics are poetic as it talks about the life of a drifter or a person who moves from one place to another.

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An interpretation of Wall’s lyrics said that “Sleeping on the Blacktop” refers to sleeping while on the road. The chorus indicates that the person will keep on “drifting” until, eventually, reality will dawn upon him. More of the lyrics encompass the person’s experiences while on the road, such as waking up late in the morning, riding through the woods as he goes to the next town, witnessing an accident on the number 4, and tasting liquor from every place that he went to.

“Sleeping on the Blacktop” is among Colter Wall’s songs that feature his deep voice, which adds to the quality of the songs he creates. 

Listen to Colter Wall’s vocals right here.