"Lonely Road" is a song by American musicians Machine Gun Kelly and Jelly Roll, released on July 26, 2024. Produced by Travis Barker, Charlie Handsome, BazeXX and SlimXX, it notably interpolates "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver. It is included on the "Pickin' Up the Pieces" deluxe edition of Jelly Roll's tenth studio album, Beautifully Broken.
| "Lonely Road" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Machine Gun Kelly and Jelly Roll | ||||
| Released | July 26, 2024 | |||
| Length | 3:09 | |||
| Label |
| |||
| Songwriter(s) |
| |||
| Producer(s) |
| |||
| Machine Gun Kelly singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Jelly Roll singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Lonely Road" on YouTube | ||||
Background
editOn an Instagram post, Machine Gun Kelly wrote "We worked on 'Lonely Road' for 2 years, 8 different studios, 4 different countries, changed the key 4 times".[1][2]
Composition and lyrics
editThe song centers on a man whose life is resulting in problems and failure and is now lonely. He reminisces on the joyful moments of his past, wondering what led to his current condition.[3] The lyrics focus on struggling with love relationships, as well as alcohol addiction to cope with losses.[2][4][5][6] Machine Gun Kelly sings in the melody of "Take Me Home, Country Roads" on the chorus: "Lonely road take me home / To the place where we went wrong / Where'd you go now?/ It's been a ghost town / And I'm still here / All alone".[3][5]
Music video
editAn official music video was directed by Sam Cahill and premiered on July 26, 2024. It stars Machine Gun Kelly and Jelly Roll along with their significant others, Megan Fox and Bunnie XO respectively, and depicts them as mechanics who are struggling to provide for their families. The visual opens with the artists attending a funeral, dressed in all black, before working alongside each other at an automobile repair shop in matching tan jumpsuits. In other scenes, Kelly kisses his pregnant wife's stomach, and Jelly Roll stands in a field as he sings and consoles his wife after they receive a letter confirming an infertility diagnosis. Eventually, after the two couples have a dinner party together, MGK hatches a plan to rob a bank, while Jelly Roll, being an ex-convict, refuses to return to a life of crime.[1][2][5][6] MGK later leaves on his motorcycle and commits the robbery.[2][5][6][7] He is arrested, but not before delivering the stolen money to his wife.[1][5][6][7] Eight months later, MGK is visited in prison by his wife with their newborn daughter,[1][5] and kisses his child through the glass.[5][6] The baby girl in the video is another woman's child and Megan Fox is not actually pregnant.[7]
Charts
edit| Chart (2024) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[8] | 66 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[9] | 25 |
| Global 200 (Billboard)[10] | 62 |
| New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[11] | 4 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[12] | 67 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[13] | 33 |
| US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[14] | 19 |
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[15] | 13 |
| US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[16] | 7 |
| US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[17] | 25 |
References
edit- ^ a b c d Kreps, Daniel (July 26, 2024). "Machine Gun Kelly and Jelly Roll Drop Video for John Denver-Inspired 'Lonely Road'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Burton, Poppy (July 27, 2024). "Machine Gun Kelly and Jelly Roll share John Denver-inspired single 'Lonely Road'". NME. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b "Jelly Roll + MGK Put a New Spin on John Denver's 'Take Me Home, Country Roads'". Taste of Country. July 26, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ Horvath, Zachary (July 29, 2024). "MGK & Jelly Roll Divulge In Their Tragic Pasts On "Lonely Road"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g Gibbs, Audrey (July 26, 2024). "Megan Fox plays pregnant woman in music video for new MGK, Jelly Roll song 'Lonely Road'". The Tennessean. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Kaufman, Gil (July 26, 2024). "Megan Fox Gives Birth, Bunnie XO Struggles With Infertility in Emotional Jelly Roll and MGK 'Lonely Road' Video". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ a b c Martin, Annie (July 26, 2024). "Megan Fox joins Machine Gun Kelly, Jelly Roll in 'Lonely Road' music video". United Press International. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 5 August 2024". The ARIA Report. No. 1796. Australian Recording Industry Association. August 5, 2024. p. 4.
- ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 11, 2024.
- ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2024.
- ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2024.
- ^ "Jelly Roll Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2024.