Songfacts®:

• The Drunken Hearts are an Americana-rock band from Colorado led by vocalist/guitarist Andrew McConathy. "Wheels Of The City," the title track of their third full-length release, was inspired by the 1960 essay "The Vanishing American Hobo" by Beat generation poet/novelist Jack Kerouac. McConathy explains: "'Wheels of the City' examines the cultural paradigm between the homeless, health insurance-less 99% of America and the remaining 1% who seemingly wish to leave their brothers and sisters helpless, and/or build a wall to keep freedom and opportunity at bay against an overbearing patriarchy who wishes to repress them. 'Build a bridge, and not a wall.'"
• McConathy sings from the perspective of a homeless man sleeping in a doorway who dreams of a future where people like him aren't cast aside in their "dull and nameless rags," but are a part of a community that cares for them. "Let’s build a bridge and not a wall, Something to bind us, not divide us all," he sings.
• The lyrics reference boxer Joe Louis ("Other hand hanging strong, strong like Joe Louis"), who was the heavyweight champion of the world from 1937 to 1949.