The lyrics of "Henry" by New Riders Of The Purple Sage tell the story of a man named Henry who decides to run to Mexico to obtain a large amount of drugs to bring back home. He embarks on a perilous journey, facing challenges on mountain roads while trying to avoid getting caught. In the end, Henry successfully makes it to Mexico, gets high, and returns home without getting caught at the border.

Meaning of "Henry" by New Riders Of The Purple Sage

The lyrics in "Henry" depict a narrative of a man seeking an escape from his monotonous and mundane life. Henry's decision to go to Mexico in search of drugs represents his desire for excitement and adventure. His determination to obtain a significant quantity of drugs, represented by the "twenty keys of gold," reveals his desperation for a transformative experience. The treacherous journey on challenging mountain roads symbolizes the dangers and risks Henry is willing to take to break free from his dull existence. However, the line "How he's gonna drive like that is not too clear to me" suggests that Henry's decision-making under the influence may be impaired, raising questions about the wisdom of pursuing such an escape. Furthermore, the mention of Tijuana as a "lovely town" and the influx of tourists and money during bullfight events highlight the allure of adventure and the potential rewards that can come from taking risks. The line about the border guards being too busy at five o'clock implies that Henry successfully evades detection and reaches his destination, suggesting that he may have achieved the temporary escape and excitement he was seeking.

Overall, the meaning behind "Henry" revolves around the theme of seeking escape from mundane existence through risky and dangerous means. It explores the allure of adventure, the desire for transformation, and the potential consequences and uncertainties that come with pursuing such pathways.