TV Smith: We Want the Road

At the height of his obscurity, former Advert TV Smith (more here) broke up his loud rock n' roll band Cheap. Then, going on the advice of his old friend Attila the Stockbroker, Smith struck out as an angry folkie on 1992's, March of the Giants.


By cutting off the electricity and turning up the finger-pointing, he did an anti-Dylan, which is fitting since TV is no man's disciple. It's an album that rewards each listening in a different way and it was championed by his 2nd greatest fan, The Big Takeover's Jack Rabid. While not a smashing commercials success, the album established TV's sustainable practice of recording with a varying cast but touring solo.



This approach unleashed a slew of slam-bang songs, which carried on though 1995's Immortal Rich, released in the U.S. on Henry Rollins' (his 3rd biggest fan) label. The first single was the somber-but-restless "We Want the Road, which might make some of our younger readers (Do we have those?) think that TV is Frank Tuner's dad.

We Want The Road

When your walls close in
There'll be wheels waiting
Ready to roll
You can come with me
I'll always be free
Pack up and go

We want the road
We want the open fields
We want to feel we're heading somewhere
We have the right to go where we want
Cut away our ties, shrug away our load
want the road

I will cheer you on
When your strength has gone
And you struggle for hope
There's a world out there
Just shake out your hair
Loosen your ropes

We want the road

When you don't know which way to turn
When you're tired and confused
When your head's full of negative thoughts
I could be right with you

When their words are dust
There's no-one to trust
Nowhere is home
I'm a principle
Fundamental
Your right to roam

We want the road

We Want The Road
When your walls close in
There'll be wheels waiting
Ready to roll
You can come with me
I'll always be free
Pack up and go

We want the road
We want the open fields
We want to feel we're heading somewhere
We have the right to go where we want
Cut away our ties, shrug away our load
want the road

I will cheer you on
When your strength has gone
And you struggle for hope
There's a world out there
Just shake out your hair
Loosen your ropes

We want the road

When you don't know which way to turn
When you're tired and confused
When your head's full of negative thoughts
I could be right with you

When their words are dust
There's no-one to trust
Nowhere is home
I'm a principle
Fundamental
Your right to roam

We want the road

(Image courtesy of Record Collectors of the World Unite)

MRML readers: please give your take on TV's solo turn in the comments!

We Want the Road CD single

It's embarrassing how giddy I am about the forthcoming TV Smith documentary.


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Don't forget to visit Nuzz Prowling Wolf who has posted a three track taster for TV's new live album on Boss Tunage.