Meaning of "Wayside (Back in Time)" by Chris Thile

"Wayside (Back in Time)" is a nostalgic song that yearns for the past. It expresses a longing for a lost love and a desire to go back to a simpler, happier time. The opening verse depicts a time of unemployment and excessive drinking, suggesting a period of aimlessness and dissatisfaction. The reference to Nashville and "soldier's joy" may allude to the difficulties faced by aspiring musicians in a competitive industry. The chorus and subsequent verses highlight a deep yearning to go back to the past when the love interest was still present. The lyrics use imagery like "standing on the corner" and "watching the tires fall away" to evoke a sense of being stuck or on the sidelines, wasting away. The mention of peaches in the summertime and apples in the fall signifies a desire for everlasting love, not settling for anything less. The song also references Frisco as a place of dreams and opportunity, contrasting with the narrator's current situation in Nashville. The lyrics lament the changing times and the impending loss of Nashville's cultural identity. Overall, "Wayside (Back in Time)" explores themes of lost love, longing for the past, and the feeling of being wasted and left behind in a changing world.