The speaker is in Aberdeen on his way to New Orleans. The women in Aberdeen promise to give him gas but don't want him around. He plans to take the women out of town. He sees his baby coming down the road, but she doesn't want him anymore. There are too many women he's never seen, and he brings them back from New Orleans. The speaker is heartbroken and looking for a woman who doesn't have a man. He reminisces about where they used to live, but they can't live there anymore. He says goodbye, but claims that everyone knows the woman still comes knocking at his door.

Meaning of "Aberdeen" by Kenny Wayne Shepherd

The song "Aberdeen" by Kenny Wayne Shepherd explores themes of unrequited love, rejection, and longing for a place that no longer feels like home. Aberdeen represents a place where the speaker feels unwanted and excluded. Despite being from there, the people of Aberdeen don't embrace him, leading him to seek solace and comfort elsewhere. The speaker's journey to New Orleans is symbolic of him seeking escape and new experiences in the hopes of finding acceptance and love. However, his encounters with women in both Aberdeen and New Orleans only bring temporary satisfaction, as indicated by the line "I bring too many women back from New Orleans." The speaker's heartbreak is further highlighted as he yearns for a woman who is unavailable. He longs for a connection with someone who doesn't have a man, revealing his desire for a genuine and reciprocated love. The reminiscing about their former home emphasizes the loss and the fact that they can no longer share a life together. The final lines of the song suggest that despite the goodbye, the woman still reaches out to the speaker, leaving the door open for the possibility of reconciliation. Overall, "Aberdeen" delves into the pain of unreturned affection, the search for belonging, and the bittersweet nostalgia of what once was.