mgk & Jelly Roll Serve Up a Twisted Take on a John Denver Classic with Lonely Road

In a surprising twist that has fans buzzing, MGK and Jelly Roll have joined forces to create Lonely Road, a rebellious reimagining of John Denver’s iconic Take Me Home, Country Roads, but with a gritty, rebellious twist.

MGK and Jelly Roll Lonely Road song cover

Released on July 26, 2024, this collaboration marks a significant moment in both musicians’ careers, bridging the gap between rock, country, and hip-hop.

Their collaborative single, “Lonely Road,” pays homage to the classic while infusing it with a raw, contemporary edge that perfectly encapsulates the artists’ respective styles.

The release was accompanied by a cinematic music video, directed by Sam Cahill, that visually enriches the track’s melancholic yet hopeful narrative.

The MGK & Jelly Roll “Lonely Road” Lyrics: A Closer Look

“Lonely Road” takes listeners on an emotional journey through the aftermath of a painful breakup.

The song’s evocative lyrics paint a vivid picture of isolation, regret, and the desire to return to a place of comfort and familiarity.

The chorus sets the tone for the entire track.

“Lonely road, take me home. To the place where we went wrong Where’d you go now? It’s been a ghost town, and I’m still here all alone.”

This refrain captures the essence of the song: a longing to return to the moment where things went awry, perhaps with the hope of making things right.

The imagery of a “ghost town” emphasises the emptiness left in the wake of a lost relationship.

MGK’s verses delve deeper into the complexities of moving on:

“Imma go downtown Ain’t been in a long time I’m takin’ back Sundays since you took away my life.”

These lines suggest a reclamation of identity and independence after feeling constrained by a relationship.

The reference to “takin’ back Sundays” implies regaining control over one’s time and choices.

The song also touches on themes of self-reflection and personal growth.

“There’s some things that I know now about couple songs that I’d rewrite.”

This lyric hints at newfound wisdom gained through the experience of heartbreak, along with a desire to change past actions or words.

In a particularly poignant verse, MGK employs a clever metaphor:

“See, I hear the devil wears Prada, but I couldn’t read the tags, and your horns started showin’ when I seen you mad.”

This imagery compares the ex-partner to the devil, suggesting that warning signs were present but overlooked.

However, the song doesn’t solely place blame on the other person. MGK acknowledges his own role in the relationship’s demise:

“I probably could’ve saved us, but instead, I let us crash ‘Cause I don’t trust no one to love me back, but she say, ‘I do'”

These lines reveal a struggle with self-worth and the fear of being truly loved, which ultimately contributed to the relationship’s end.

Jelly Roll’s contribution to the song adds another layer of raw emotion.

“When the days feel long and the nights get cold and I’m thousands of miles away, I use alcohol just to fill that hole. Will our home ever be the same?”

His verse captures the loneliness and coping mechanisms that often accompany heartbreak, along with the uncertainty of whether things can ever return to how they once were.

The song concludes with a powerful bridge that seems to offer a glimmer of hope.

“And if you could salvage my soul, would you sacrifice this life to not die alone? ‘ Cause even a palace ain’t home without you. So I might leave here soon, but I want to leave you this song.”

These lines suggest a willingness to reconcile and an acknowledgment that material wealth means little without love.

The song itself becomes a final gesture, either as a parting gift or a plea for another chance.

Through its richly layered lyrics, “Lonely Road” offers a nuanced exploration of love, loss, and the journey of self-discovery that often follows a significant breakup.

Its a relatable narrative that resonates with anyone who has experienced the pain of lost love and the complex emotions that come with trying to find one’s way back home—both literally and figuratively.

Behind the Scenes: The Making of “Lonely Road”

The creation of “Lonely Road” was a lengthy and meticulous process. MGK shared, “We worked on ‘Lonely Road’ for 2 years, 8 different studios, 4 different countries, changed the key 4 times, and now you’ll hear we finally got it right.”

The track boasts an impressive lineup of writers, including MGK, Jelly Roll, Travis Barker, Charlie Handsome, BazeXX, Taffy Nivert Danoff, Mary Catherine Danoff, Bill Danoff, John Denver, SlimXX, Caskey, and Yelawolf.

On the production side, SlimXX, BazeXX, Charlie Handsome, and Travis Barker combined their talents to create the song’s unique sound.

A Star-Studded Music Video

The visual narrative follows MGK and Jelly Roll as struggling car mechanics facing financial hardships while trying to provide for their families.

Adding star power to the production are cameos from MGK’s partner Megan Fox and Jelly Roll’s wife Bunnie XO.

While MGK’s character hatches a plan to rob a bank to support his pregnant wife (played by his real-life partner, Megan Fox), Jelly Roll’s character is an ex-convict determined to stay on the straight and narrow.

Despite Jelly Roll’s character’s reservations, MGK’s character goes through with the heist, ultimately landing himself in prison.

However, in a poignant twist, he’s able to provide for his newborn daughter and receives visits from her and Megan Fox’s character while incarcerated.

The video premiered across multiple platforms, including MTV Live, MTVU, MTV Biggest Pop, CMT, CMT Music, CMT Equal Play, and even graced the Paramount Times Square billboards.

From Beef to Collaboration

The partnership between MGK and Jelly Roll is particularly noteworthy given their past tension.

Jelly Roll openly admitted to previously having “real beef” with MGK, describing himself as a “hater” during that time.

However, he took the initiative to reach out and make amends, leading to a newfound friendship and musical collaboration.

Jelly Roll has since become one of MGK’s biggest supporters, praising his character and encouraging him to share more of his personal side with the world.

He highlighted MGK’s dedication to his daughter, noting how he prioritises attending her volleyball games over touring commitments.

A Potential New Direction for MGK

MGK’s involvement in “Lonely Road” has fueled speculation that he may be gearing up for a foray into country music.

His recent performances at CMA Fest 2024 further fanned these flames, with the artist taking the stage at the Spotify House and delivering a stripped-down, acoustic cover of The Chicks’ “There’s Your Trouble,” a far cry from his usual punk rock fare.

Additionally, MGK’s cover of Zach Bryan’s “Sun to Me,” which he shared on YouTube, garnered widespread praise from fans, who marvelled at his versatility and ability to seamlessly transition between genres.

A Nod to Emo Roots

Amidst the country-infused melodies of “Lonely Road,” MGK and Jelly Roll couldn’t resist paying homage to their respective roots.

In a subtle nod to the emo scene, MGK slips in a lyrical reference to the iconic band Taking Back Sunday, singing, “I’ma go downtown / Ain’t been in a long time / I’m taking back Sundays / Since you took away my life.”

While the duo’s collaboration is undoubtedly a departure from their usual musical fare, it’s evident that they haven’t entirely abandoned their origins, seamlessly weaving elements of their past into their present artistic endeavours.

With its heartfelt lyrics, compelling narrative, and genre-blending sound, “Lonely Road” stands out as a poignant reflection on personal growth and the universal search for redemption.

As MGK continues to explore new musical landscapes and Jelly Roll solidifies his place in the music industry, “Lonely Road” serves as a promising sign of what’s to come from these talented artists.

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mgk & Jelly Roll Lonely Road Lyrics

Intro: mgk
Lonely road
Take me home
Take me home
Lonely road

Verse 1: mgk
I’ma go downtown
Ain’t been in a long time
I’m takin’ back Sundays
Since you took away my life (Since you took away my life)
There’s some things that I know now (Mm)
Couple songs that I’d rewrite (Yeah)
Start over like Mondays
Pourin’ strong on a weeknight (Mm)

Pre-Chorus: mgk
See, I hear the devil wears Prada, but I couldn’t read the tags
And your horns started showin’ when I seen you mad
But I’ll wait for you ’cause this is not the face I knew
I probably could’ve saved us, but instead, I let us crash
‘Cause I don’t trust no one to love me back, but shе say, “I do”
And this is not the place for you

Chorus: mgk & The Castellows
Lonely road, takе me home
To the place that we went wrong
Where’d you go now?
It’s been a ghost town
And I’m still here all alone

Verse 2: Jelly Roll & mgk
When the days feel long and the nights get cold
And I’m thousands of miles away (Ah-ah-ah)
I use alcohol just to fill that hole
Will our home ever be the same?

Pre-Chorus: Jelly Roll
I hear the devil wears Prada, but I couldn’t read the tags
And your horn started showin’ when I see you mad
But I’ll wait for you ’cause this is not the face I knew
And I probably could’ve saved us, but instead, I let us crash
‘Cause I don’t trust no one to love me back, but you say, “I do”
And this is not the place for you

Chorus: Jelly Roll & The Castellows
Lonely road, take me home
To the place that we went wrong
Where’d you go now?
It’s been a ghost town
And I’m still here all alone

Bridge: mgk, mgk & Lily Balkcom, Jelly Roll
And if you could salvage my soul
Would you sacrifice this life to not die alone?
‘Cause even a palace ain’t home without you
So I might leave here soon, but I wanna leave you this song
(Hey)

Chorus: mgk & The Castellows, Jelly Roll
Lonely road (Lonely road)
Take me home (Won’t you take me home?)
To the place (To the place) that we went wrong
Where’d you go now? (Where’d you go now?)
It’s been a ghost town
And I’m still here (I’m still here) all alone

Outro: mgk & Jelly Roll
This lonely road Yeah, I’m on this road now
This lonely road Feeling so alone
Take me home
This lonely road Mm, I’m on this road now
This lonely road Feeling so alone
Take me home, mm