Illustration of a woman with glasses and cat ears singing and playing guitar on a stage with a drum in the background. The stage has a green curtain, and the scene is framed by a large number 35 and the words "King of the Road" with a Route 66 sign. The background shows a long road in a desert landscape with a green starry sky.

35     KING OF THE ROAD

KEY CONCEPTS:  protector, power, greatness, pride, all aspects of fatherhood, fatherly influence, musical talent, responsibility, hustle, exhaustion, living on the road, overstimulation, provision, issues with authority, authority figure. (Corresponds to Emperor)

MESSAGE:  King of the Road represents fatherhood, and all aspects of divine masculinity.  Traveling troubadours clocked long hours in tour buses pursuing greatness along the Route.  Performing at far-flung roadhouses and ballrooms across the USA, these hungry hunters were forced to make tracks just to bring home the bacon.  Drumming up success using musical talents can usher sad separations.  King Daddy-O departed from the comfy bosom of his family, but it doesn’t mean he cared any less.  He made ends meet the only way he knew, maintaining his crop of curtain-climbers from afar…swinging both microphone and pelvis to protect and provide.  Living on the road falls heavy at times, but King refused to let long hours throw a spoke in his wheel.  Have you fallen prey to overstimulation?  Beat it back to the bus, bopper.  Take five after your show…R&R doesn’t always mean rock and roll. 

Fathers come in many stripes.  Some spilt the seed and split, some toil on the home front every day.  Some papa-sans are stern and some are soft, but all of them gave something to their children.  Was it only the gift of your existence?  That’s a potent present! Could it be the best asset he furnished was absence?  Your deadbeat dad might’ve doled out more damage in the flesh.  Live performances of fatherhood are onstage now; anyone can get tickets.  Dads show up in surprising venues; superstar mentors come in every shape and size. When you call no man on Earth your Daddy-O, you reap celestial parentage:  “I” and “My Father” are one. When you praise or blame an earthly man, you miss your cue.   

King of the Road is no mere drifter; he’s the ultimate travel expert. His cockiness spurs scuffles with authority figures coast to coast.  Whether appearing as Bobby Troup, creator of the popular standard song of the Route, or Texas rocker Buddy Holly or maybe St. Louis’ own Chuck Berry, he hit one night-stands from Chicago to L.A..  His legend echoes on...but if he used a brutal touring schedule to skate on obligations, he’s no royal.  Are you sidestepping key decisions and avoiding commitments just to get your kicks? It’s time to book that gig, friend.

Daddy-O must ditch the arrogance if he wants to really rock and roll.  Great Kings don’t force domination on the realm.  Have you fallen for delusions of grandeur?  Elvis didn’t earn respect just by brandishing a haughty sneer.  Did you remember to thank your audience?  What about the service staff?  Petty tyrants face revolt, but a maestro serves every fan through humble stewardship.  When you focus on your loyal guys and dolls, your performance benefits the world.

RELATED SITES:  CAIN’S BALLROOM, TULSA, OK; ILLINOIS ROCK AND ROLL MUSEUM, JOLIET, IL; NATIONAL BLUES MUSEUM, ST. LOUIS, MO;  WOODY GUTHRIE CENTER, TULSA, OK; STANDING ON A CORNER STATUE, WINSLOW, AZ;  MUSICAL HIGHWAY, TIJERAS, NM; RAIL HAVEN, SPRINGFIELD, MO, MR D’Z ROUTE 66 DINER, KINGMAN, AZ; ELO TROVATORE MOTEL, KINGMAN, AZ.