Written: Kirtland NM, 1972
In 1972, Peter and Rockee Blue, army friends of Knees’ from 1968, came out to New Mexico for a visit. With Knees and his wife, Joyce, they went on a two-day trip to the Grand Canyon, finding out that on the southern rim side, you must drive through Tuba City AZ no matter where you go or what you do. The Blues suggested that Knees write a song about “all roads leading to Tuba City”.
It’s a sad road I’m travelin
Sad because my baby tole me that our love is dead
“Go on an beat your head against the wall,” she said
“I don’t think that I can take it any more.”
A man tries to make a livin
Doin what he does the best for as much as he can get
But tell that to a woman without lowerin your head
When the life she needs is just outside your door.
An the raincloud up ahead is flashin like a sign
It's a motorcycle nightmare on the Utah line
Do you blame me brothers for changin my mind?
I turn around an head back home.
All roads lead to Tuba
Just like all roads lead to hell
If you’re headin for the Canyon
You’ll get to know it well.
Well I tried to leave my woman
Somethin I’ve attempted so many times before
But every time I come on back a-beggin at the door
I wonder just what I’m tryin to do?
As I ride into Tuba
I get a kinda feelin that things just ain’t the same
Like mebbe someone’s changed all the rules to the game
I wonder if it’s me or if it’s you.
Then I see the note that’s lyin on the bed
Says “Now do you believe that our love is dead?”
Then I start to thinkin bout all the things she said
An I go an beat my head against the wall.