What’s that word in “On the Road Again”?

Today we’ll address a commonly misunderstood word used by Alan Wilson in his lyrics. Louise R. wrote in with the following question:

“Do you know if Alan sings 'fairo' or 'payroll' in his song ‘On the Road Again’? …I believe he uses the word [fairo] in that song as well as in "An Owl Song", but some disagree.”

“On the Road Again” is composed using a number of traditional blues lines and phrases. It is based in part on a 1952 record called “Dark Road” or “Dark Road Blues” by Floyd Jones. The term “fairo”, however, can be traced back further than this in blues history. One example is Tommy Johnson, whose influence on Canned Heat was so significant that the band named itself after one of his songs. He used “fairo” on the 1928 record “Cool Drink of Water Blues”; it can be heard online here.

In blues tradition, “fairo” can be interpreted as lover. In his classic work of musicological scholarship, Big Road Blues, ethnomusicologist Dr. David Evans gives “sweetheart” as a meaning and cites several possible etymological derivations. Those interested in learning more about traditional blues lyrics and composition are strongly encouraged to read Dr. Evans' book.

In his “On the Road Again”, Alan sings: “…the first time I traveled out in the rain and snow… I didn’t have no fairo, not even no place to go.” To those who are unfamiliar with the blues tradition from whence “fairo” sprang, and who are also unfamiliar with “An Owl Song”, the interpretation of this word as “payroll” might have particular appeal. If you have never heard of a fairo, the ear may attempt to process this sound into a word that does make sense. Replace fairo with payroll in “On the Road Again”, and you’ll still get a lyric that makes sense.

Listening to “An Owl Song”, however, this hypothesis breaks down quickly. Here, Alan sings, “I want to thank you fairo, just for what you promise me… you know I trust you fairo and I tell the world I do.” Insert the word payroll here, and you get something completely nonsensical.

In summary, sources citing this word as “payroll” are likely to be uneducated about blues vocabulary. Newcomers to Alan’s music, or to blues, may be confused by this kind of language and the misunderstanding of other listeners. Therefore it is important for Alanologists and Canned Heat scholars to study the blues, particularly the early rural blues of the 1920s, and examine the roots of Alan’s music before attempting lyric analysis.