About The Song
In 1981 Bobby Bare returned to his country roots with the album *As Is*, produced by Rodney Crowell. One of the standout tracks was “New Cut Road,” written by Guy Clark. Released as a single in early 1982, the song climbed to number eighteen on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It showcased Bare’s continued strength as an interpreter of thoughtful, narrative-driven material during a period when he was reconnecting with traditional country sounds.
Guy Clark crafted “New Cut Road” as a vivid, character-rich story song. The lyrics follow a man reflecting on life’s twists and turns, using the image of a new cut road as a metaphor for change, journey, and the paths people take. Clark’s writing combined sharp observation with poetic detail, creating a song that felt both grounded and quietly profound—exactly the kind of material Bare had long excelled at bringing to life.
Bare delivered the performance with his trademark warmth and easy authority. His deep, conversational voice gave the story a sense of lived experience, making the listener feel like they were hearing a tale from an old friend. The production on *As Is* kept things rootsy and straightforward, allowing Clark’s strong songwriting and Bare’s natural delivery to remain the focus without unnecessary embellishment.
The single’s solid chart performance came as Bare was enjoying a creative resurgence in the early 1980s. After exploring various styles in previous years, *As Is* marked a deliberate return to country storytelling, and “New Cut Road” fit perfectly into that vision. While it didn’t reach the commercial heights of some of his earlier hits, it was well received by fans and critics who appreciated Bare’s consistent commitment to quality material.
The song’s enduring appeal lies in its strong narrative and Guy Clark’s distinctive songwriting voice. Clark had a gift for painting vivid pictures with everyday language, and Bare’s interpretation brought those images to life with genuine feeling. The track has remained a favorite among fans of both artists and continues to appear on compilations celebrating classic country songwriting.
Decades later “New Cut Road” stands as a fine example of Bobby Bare’s later-career work. It demonstrated his ability to stay relevant by championing strong songwriters and delivering their material with honesty and warmth. The recording captured a moment when Bare was consciously reconnecting with the storytelling traditions that had defined much of his best work.
More than forty years after its release, the song continues to resonate with listeners who value thoughtful country music. What began as a standout track on *As Is* remains a testament to Bare’s enduring taste and his gift for bringing vivid, well-crafted stories to country audiences in a way that felt both timeless and deeply personal.
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Lyric
Coalman Bonner was a fiddle playin’ fool
He was a backwoods rounder and a breaker of mules
Coalman Bonner’s got a wor’ out bow
He been playin’ two days down a new cut road
Now Coalman’s little sister said, “You better act right, Coalman
Daddy’s going to Louisville, he’ll be back tonight
He gonna get another wagon and a good pair of mules
Oh, we gonna move to Texas, we just waitin’ on news”
Now Coalman’s daddy, he pulled up in the yard
He said, “Back up your lives kids, it’s getting too hard
Kentucky’s alright but there’s too many people
Well, just the other day, I thought I saw a church steeple”
Now Coalman said, “Daddy don’t you worry ’bout me
I wanna stay here in Kentucky ’til the day I dee
I’m wanna drink that sour mash, I’m gonna raise that mare
Yeah, I got me a woman with a foxy red hair”
“We all been movin’ west since the day he got married
I’m getting off the wagon, I’m too old to be carried
I’m gonna stay in Kentucky where the blue grass grows
I’m gonna play it all night down a new cut road”
Now Coalman’s daddy said, “What’s it all comin’ to?
Young people these days are just stubborn as mules”
He can’t make ’em go, he’s too old for that
It’s that damned ol’ fiddle and that bowler hat
Now Coalman’s momma said, “Let the boy stay
‘Cause he’s raised up solid, he can find his own way
But as for me, honey, I’m with you
I always thought Kentucky was just passin’ through”
Coalman’s little sister, she started in a cry
And his daddy shook his hand for the very last time
Coalman’s momma said, “Somebody gotta do it
Wouldn’t be no Kentucky, ‘less you didn’t stick to it, Coalman”
Coalman Bonner stood on the porch of that cabin
Watched ’em all go to Texas in a covered wagon
He pulled out his fiddle and he rosined up his bow
And he played a little tune called New Cut Road