Meaning of 'Let Him Roll'

by Johnny Cash

Interpretation

The lyrics of the song "Let Him Roll" by Johnny Cash tell the story of a man who has spent his life as a drinker. The narrator describes how this man has done everything possible to get by - he has worked on freighters, in bars, on farms, and repaired cars. But his dependence on cheap wine has destroyed him from within.

The lyrics of the song show how the man gradually loses his mind and it becomes increasingly difficult for him to cope with his life. He tells the narrator that every day gets a little harder and that he is losing himself more and more. The man used to be an elevator operator in a cheap hotel and lived in a small single cell. But the years have aged him and his life has been marked by struggles and loneliness.

The man also tells the story of his unhappy love for a prostitute in Dallas. The woman rejected his marriage proposals and chose to continue living a life as a prostitute. This pain and disappointment have driven the man further into the abyss.

The lyrics of the song end with the man's death and his life only existing in the memories of other people. While going through his personal belongings, a faded photograph of a woman is found, along with an address in Dallas. It turns out that the woman, Alice, was a former prostitute and possibly the woman the man has dreamed of his whole life.

Overall, the lyrics of the song depict the sad and hopeless story of a man who ruined his life through his dependence and unrequited love. He never found the happiness or redemption he sought, and in the end, only the memory of him and his unfinished life remains.