In an NPR interview John McCrea implies that this song is a product of real life frustrations
“You’re in an argument with your significant other and suddenly you have to pull out your pen and paper”
[Verse 1]
In a wooden boat in the shipping lanes
With the freighters towering over me
I can hear the jets flying overhead
Making lines across the darkening sky
And when the sun is going down I can take a taxi into town
And the waiter at the restaurant sets a table just for one
[Chorus]
Wheels keep on spinning round spinning round spinning round
Wheels keep on spinning round spinning round and round
(Okay)
[Verse 2]
So I had a plane to take me to a place so far away from you
Eventually we began to see that we could be completely free
And I could get away from you
And you could get away from me
And we could live each separately in our cities in the sun
[Chorus]
Wheels keep on spinning round spinning round spinning round
Wheels keep on spinning round spinning round and round
(Okay, alright)
[Verse 3]
In a seedy karaoke bar
By the banks of the mighty Bosphorus
Is a Japanese man in a business suit singing 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes'
And the muscular cyborg German dudes dance with sexy French Canadians
While the overweight Americans wear their patriotic jumpsuits
[Chorus]
Wheels keep on spinning round spinning round spinning round
Wheels keep on spinning round spinning round and round
Alright
This one, right
[Bridge]
(Spinning round)
Wheels keep on spinning round spinning round spinning round
(Spinning round)
Wheels keep on spinning round spinning round and round
[Outro]
(I don't know)
Why you say you are not in love with me
(I don't know)
Why you say you are not in love with me
(I don't know)
Why you say you [music stops] are not in love with me
Wheels was written by Carlos Forster & John McCrea.
Wheels was produced by CAKE.