Written as a parody of “Patience” by Guns ‘N’ Roses, “The Road Behind” is GWAR’s attempt at a gentle power ballad featuring an acoustic intro with whistling and intentionally anti-sentimental lyrics. The chorus is sung by bassist Beefcake The Mighty, at the time portrayed by Mike Bishop.
[Vocals by Oderus Urungus & Beefcake The Mighty]
[Verse 1]
Well I'm travelin' down the road
And I'm carrying that heavy load
I stagger 'round in a stupor
Sleazy, I can't do the show
I'm hangin' out backstage
I'm in a homicidal rage
I signed a million dollar contract
I puked on every page
Slaughtered half the crew
'Cause they ate my deli tray
Oh baby hey
I said I'd do the show
And I canceled anyway
[Pre-Chorus]
You were a road kill baby
'Til I scraped you in my arms
Just another wattle flapping
On the old turkey farm
So baby
[Chorus]
While the wheels keep rolling
And another milepost gone
All along on the road behind
Oh can't you hear me calling
Just like the sad whale song
I'm on that road behind
[Verse 2]
Well there you have it, baby
I'm just a sensitive guy
Y'know I snuffed a million planets
But I still find time to cry
Because there's more to life
Than making other people die
Like a little bloody tear baby
Running out my dirty little eye
And some things, baby
They don't make no sense
Does it really matter if it bugs your parents?
[Pre-Chorus]
You're a road kill baby
I scraped you in my arms, ow!
'Nother wattle flappin'
On the old turkey farm
So baby
Baby, quit your crying
Put them clown britches on
[Chorus]
While the wheels keep rolling
And another milepost gone
All along on the road behind
Oh can't you hear me calling
Just like the sad whale song
I'm on that road behind
Oh yeah!
[Solo]
[Chorus]
While the wheels keep rolling
And another milepost gone
All along on the road behind
Oh can't you hear me calling
Just like the sad whale song
I'm on that road behind
While the wheels keep rolling
And another milepost gone
All along on the road behind
[Outro]
Well the wheels keep rolling
And another signpost gone
Baby, can't you hear me calling
Like a sad whale song
Like a sad whale song
Sad whale, baby
The Road Behind was written by Michael Bishop (GWAR) & Dave Brockie.
The Road Behind was produced by Glen Robinson.
GWAR released The Road Behind on Tue Mar 31 1992.
According to an interview with Mike Bishop, “The Road Behind” was originally supposed to feature only him on lead vocals. Dave Brockie initially didn’t want to sing on the song, saying it was “too pop”, so Bishop tracked it as a solo song before Brockie changed his mind.