"Turn the Page" is a song originally released by Bob Seger in 1973 on his Back in '72 album. Released as a single but never charting, Seger's live version of the song on the 1976 Live Bullet album became a mainstay of album-oriented rock radio stations, and still gets significant airplay to this day on classic rock stations.
"Turn the Page" is about the emotional and social ups and downs of a rock musician's life on the road.
Both Seger's studio and live versions of "Turn the Page" feature a mellotron and a saxophone part played by founding Silver Bullet member Alto Reed. Tom Weschler allegedly helped inspire Reed to create the opening melody. During recording, Weschler told Reed: "Alto, think about it like this: You're in New York City, on the Bowery. It's 3 a.m. You're under a streetlamp. There's a light mist coming down. You're all by yourself. Show me what that sounds like." With that, Reed played the opening melody to "Turn the Page".
Lyrics
On a long and lonesome highway East of Omaha You can listen to the engine Moanin' out his one note song You can think about the woman Or the girl you knew the night before But your thoughts will soon be wandering The way they always do When you're ridin' sixteen hours And there's nothin' much to do And you don't feel much like ridin' You just wish the trip was through
See here I am On the road again There I am Up on the stage Here I go Playin' star again There I go Turn the page
Well you walk into a restaurant Strung out from the road And you feel the eyes upon you As you're shakin' off the cold You pretend it doesn't bother you But you just want to explode Most times you can't hear 'em talk Other times you can All the same old cliches "Is that a woman or a man?" And you always seem outnumbered You don't dare make a stand
Here I am On the road again There I am Up on the stage Here I go Playin' star again There I go Turn the page
Out there in the spotlight You're a million miles away Every ounce of energy You try to give away As the sweat pours out your body Like the music that you play Later in the evening As you lie awake in bed With the echoes from the amplifiers Ringin' in your head You smoke the day's last cigarette Rememberin' what she said
Here I am On the road again There I am Up on the stage Here I go Playin' star again There I go Turn the page
Here I am On the road again There I am Up on the stage Here I go Playin' star again There I go There I go
Songwriters: Bob Seger
Turn the Page lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group