The lyrics describe a group of travelers leaving the city in painted wagons, venturing through dusty roads and darkness, encountering fallen faces along the way. They experience joy, music, fires, and girls without regret, sometimes finding, keeping, losing, fighting, and even dying for possessions under the sun and in the desert.

Meaning of "Theme for an Imaginary Western" by Greenslade

"Theme for an Imaginary Western" delves into the journey of life, portrayed through the metaphor of travelers leaving the safety of the city for the unknown depths of the forest and beyond. The painted wagons represent individuality and expression, contrasting with the conformity of city life. The dusty roads symbolize the harsh realities and challenges of life's journey, where one may encounter fallen faces who seem to have understood the complexities of existence. The mention of the sun in their eyes and the desert that dries alludes to the harshness and unpredictability of life's circumstances. The lyrics also touch on themes of fleeting joy, material possessions, and the transient nature of human connections, with individuals sometimes fighting and even succumbing to their desires. Overall, the song conveys the highs and lows, joys and sorrows, and the impermanence of worldly pursuits that characterize the human experience.