'High Road' by Koe Wetzel and Jessie Murph – Lyrics & Meaning

Upon announcing the release of his forthcoming album 9 Lives, Koe Wetzel also shared that this new effort will showcase a different side of himself.

On 9 Lives, fans can expect something different from the self-described "sex, drugs, and rock & roll Koe that they may have heard about online.”

“I want fans to know that there’s a different side of me,” the artist offered. “I’ve grown up a little bit. I’m no longer the 20-year-old kid that’s partying down and getting thrown in jail all the time. 9 Lives reveals a vulnerable side that people may not be used to hearing.”

According to his latest single, a ripping breakup ballad which finds the artist recruiting vocalist Jessie Murph, this new Koe that we'll soon become well-acquainted with is someone that now takes the 'High Road.'

'High Road' opens with a blanketing of despondent notes and icy strings, washing the song in an unshakable seriousness. While the composition gets revved up as the chorus unfolds, each new flourish is weighty and wearied, battered by a long-endured anger and frustration.

'High Road' may start out cool and sobering, but the tune quickly flashes its teeth, the lyrics bearing just as much bite as it has bark.

"I can tell that you're mad
And I ain't half surprised about that
Since the day that we met
It's always who cuts first and never who bleeds last
Rumors always turn into yelling and fighting
And once it's in your mind only one way you're driving
I know, I know"

'High Road' opens on a relationship on the rocks. Someone is mad but this seems to be nothing new. This appears to be how it has always played out, with yelling and fighting, seeing who can cut the deepest.

The lyrics come off as tiresome, sung from a fed-up mouth and coming from a place of exhaustion and irritation. That may be why the artist decides to take the "high road" this time around.

"I'ma take the high road, maybe get stoned
Have a little too much of something terrible
I'ma let you cool down while I walk out
You ain't messing me up like the times before
I don't need a ticket to your shit show"

His version of the "high road" involves leaving, giving the other person the space and the time to take a breather. The artist is resolute, preferring to get into a little trouble rather than be put through the emotional ringer like all of the other times before.

The other person can "knock yourself out and hit a new low," but the singer is going to "take the high road, take the high road, take the high road."

"You don't wanna talk about it, boy, that's no surprise
You come home smelling like liquor like every other night
If I catch you with her, you 'gon catch me with him
You think I don't hear about it, you better think again
You now that rumors always turn into yellin' and fightin'
And once it's in my mind, only one way I'm drivin, you know"

In the next verse, sung from Murph's point-of-view, it seems this friction is felt on all sides and the frustrations voiced at the beginning may not be so one-sided.

Someone tends to hold a little too tightly to the bottle or can't seem to shake outside romances, which leads to constant upheaval and that vicious cycle of yelling, fighting, leaving, repeat.

That's why...

"I'ma take the high road, maybe get stoned
Have a little too much of something terrible
I'ma let you cool down while I walk out
You ain't messing me up like the times before
And I don't need a ticket to your shit show
Knock yourself out and hit a new low
I'ma take the high road, take the high road, take the high road
I'ma take the high road, take the high road, take the high road"

I can tell that you're mad
And I ain't half surprised about that
Since the day that we met
It's always who cuts first and never who bleeds last
Rumors always turn into yelling and fighting
And once it's in your mind only one way you're driving
I know, I know

I'ma take the high road, maybe get stoned
Have a little too much of something terrible
I'ma let you cool down while I walk out
You ain't messing me up like the times before
I don't need a ticket to your shit show
Knock yourself out and hit a new low
Well I'ma take the high road, take the high road, take the high road

You don't wanna talk about it, boy, that's no surprise
You come home smelling like liquor like every other night
If I catch you with her, you 'gon catch me with him
You think I don't hear about it, you better think again
You now that rumors always turn into yellin' and fightin'
And once it's in my mind, only one way I'm drivin, you know
But I know

That I'ma take the high road, maybe get stoned
Have a little too much of something terrible
I'ma let you cool down while I walk out
You ain't messing me up like the times before
I don't need a ticket to your shit show
Knock yourself out and hit a new low
I'ma take the high road, take the high road, take the high road
Woah woah

I'ma take the high road, maybe get stoned
Have a little too much of something terrible
I'ma let you cool down while I walk out
You ain't messing me up like the times before
And I don't need a ticket to your shit show
Knock yourself out and hit a new low
I'ma take the high road, take the high road, take the high road
I'ma take the high road, take the high road, take the high road

Yeah, yeah
Mmm, mmm, mmm

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