Truckers Atlas

Album: Lonesome Crowded West (1997)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is about a guy who snorts lines of crystal meth on a road atlas: "I do lines and I crossed roads, I crossed the lines of all the great state roads." He says he's "going" to whichever state the atlas is opened to: "I'm going to Colorado, to unload my head... I'm going to Arizona, sex on the rocks all warm and red and we bled." >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Rob - Eugene, OR

Comments: 5

  • Kerri from Chicago, IlHow could Brock have been a truck driver? As the other poster mentions, Modest Mouse was formed in 1993 and if he was old or not, i've never heard of him taking time out from the band to be a truck driver!!

    Also while we can certainly read the drugs into an MoMo song, there's a theme of disillusionment to this album--one place looks like the other, all places are the same and the consumer culture is taking over. we see this thematically in other songs as well--the idea that the landscape is disappearing and we along with it.
  • Mrb from Seattle, OrIsaac Brock was not a truck driver. Sorry

    Considering that Modest Mouse was formed in 1993 when Brock was 18, and the song was released in 1997 (likely recorded in 1996, but I don't really know) puts Brock at age 21 maximum at the time the song was recorded; before he would be eligible to be a commercial driver of any kind, let alone a long-haul trucker.
  • Mike from Willoughby, OhHa, I just got it that he sells his atlas for crack money.
    The entire second half of the song is just the same few measures of quiet guitar and steady drumming repeating; this is referring to how on the road or with life in general, after being excited by seeing so many different places, they all end up running together and seeming the same. Or he could be coming out of his high.
  • John from Thorofare, NjHunter is correct, Issac Brock used to be a truck driver before he created modest mouse. Most of his older songs are about past lived memories i.e. when he was a truck driver he did cocaine to stay awake.
  • Hunter from Va Beach, Va Its about a truck driver that has to stay awake and goin for hours and days at the time. He snorts COCAINE which he brakes up with a blade on his atlas instead of a mirror."I fell good, But I dont feel" is a refrence to being numbed from coke."I do lines and i crossedroads, i crossed the lines of all the great state roads" just means he's done lines an almost all the pages, over almost all the roads.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Songs Discussed in Movies

Songs Discussed in MoviesSong Writing

Bridesmaids, Reservoir Dogs, Willy Wonka - just a few of the flicks where characters discuss specific songs, sometimes as a prelude to murder.

Judas Priest

Judas PriestSongwriter Interviews

Rob Halford, Richie Faulkner and Glenn Tipton talk twin guitar harmonies and explain how they create songs in Judas Priest.

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."