Released: 2021
Morgan Wallen’s ‘This Side Of A Dust Cloud’ is a raw, emotional country song about a man dealing with the aftermath of a breakup. The song uses vivid imagery and metaphors to describe the pain and regret he feels as he watches his former lover drive away, leaving him alone and heartbroken.
The song starts with the narrator admitting that he’s usually the one who leaves, but this time, it’s his lover who’s leaving him. The ‘same pedal down on the same metal’ and ‘smokin’ up them Goodyears’ are references to driving fast, a metaphor for the speed at which she’s leaving him behind. The ‘same gravel goodbye high’ is a reference to the dust cloud left behind by a car speeding away on a gravel road.
‘She got out the driver’s side’ implies that she was the one in control of the situation, deciding to leave. ‘I know what never comin’ back looks like’ suggests the finality of the breakup, with the narrator realizing that she’s not coming back.
The line ‘Guess she beat me at my own game’ shows the narrator’s regret and surprise. He’s used to being the one who leaves, but this time, he’s on the receiving end. The ‘two-lane’ is a metaphor for their relationship, and ‘it’s gotta work both ways’ means that both parties have the power to leave.
‘She’s burnin’ unleaded and my own medicine’ is a clever play on words. ‘Burnin’ unleaded’ refers to her driving away, while ‘my own medicine’ is a common phrase meaning experiencing the negative effects of one’s own actions. In this case, the narrator is tasting the bitterness of being left, something he’s done to others before.
‘Her tires are turnin’, and the tables are too’ further emphasizes the reversal of roles. The ‘tables turning’ is a common phrase meaning a change in circumstances, usually against one’s favor. Here, it means that he’s now the one being left behind.
The chorus repeats throughout the song, reinforcing the narrator’s regret and the finality of the breakup. The ‘dust cloud’ is a powerful image representing the aftermath of her departure, and him being ‘on this side of a dust cloud’ means he’s left behind, watching her disappear.
