Discover the story of the song > Canola Fields – James McMurtry

The protagonist is reminiscing about a past love and the adventures they had together. They remember driving through Canola fields and the fun they had in their car. There was a moment of jealousy when they saw their partner talking to someone else, but they don't want to think about it. The protagonist is afraid of drifting away and losing themselves, so they ask Marie to hold on to them tightly. Time has passed and they have moved on with their lives, but they still long for the warmth and affection of a romantic relationship. The protagonist and Marie meet up again in Brooklyn, but they can't relive the excitement of their youth. They both acknowledge that they can't be young forever and have the same experiences. The protagonist still holds on to their memories and asks Marie to hold onto them tightly. They don't want to get lost and drift away. They think about Marie crossing the Canola fields in Alberta, which reminds them of the past. They admit that they don't have much romance in their life, but they still crave the warmth and affection of a romantic relationship from time to time. The protagonist and Marie meet again on a bus, but they know they can't relive their youth. They reiterate that they can't be young and have the same experiences anymore. They ask Marie to hold onto them, as they don't want to get lost and drift away.