I’ve gone through this whole album three times now, and I finally was able to rank the songs and pick my favorite line from each one. Why these are my favorite lines may not — and most often do not — have anything to do with the song itself. Most are meaningful because of what they make me think about, which is what I believe music is all about. All eleven songs on this album were well-written, and there are even a few I’d consider for a spot in my top ten Turnpike songs. This ranking is just my personal take on which songs were my favorite and least favorite from the album. I do want to say: Turnpike is yet to release a bad song. These are all good songs. Here are my rankings and my favorite lines.

1. On The Red River– “We learned pain was the price of admissionand you’re never done paying it down.” This, to me, is a good reminder that life isn’t always easy. It comes with pain, it comes with struggles, and it will until the day we die — but it makes us stronger. This one also ended up being number one because I wasn’t always the best son I fucked a lot of things up but my dad stood by me and helped me through those struggles despite me putting him through hell.
2. Be Here-“My roommate tells me ’bout Iraq. They patched him up when he came back I guess I’ve had it easy.” This is a reminder to me that some people have had lives worse than mine, and sometimes the bad things I’m dealing with would be easy for someone else to handle. It also reminds me of the servicemen and women who have fought to preserve our way of life here in the United States.
3. Searching For A Light– “I will not trade tomorrow for a pain I feel today” No matter how hard today is, no matter how bad it gets, there is always tomorrow. I’ve learned over time that, for me, if I deal with the pain head-on, it becomes easier as time moves on. I held on to some things for a long time that I never dealt with, and once I did, it got easier. Some of those pains will be with me until the day I die, but they don’t weigh me down like they used to.
4. Heaven Passing Through– “Finally living in the here and nowno sign of a thundercloud following you” Like I said, there were some things that I held onto for a long time. When I was barely sixteen, I moved schools and didn’t know anybody. I was dating a girl, and it ended in a very bad way. There was nothing I could’ve done to prevent what happened, but it sticks with me still. And then, just a few months later, I got a call that two of my friends from my old school had died in a car accident. I lived in the past with both of those—and one more that I don’t really speak about often. It was, to me, like a thundercloud following me. And it took a long time—damn near three years—to stop living in that past and start living in the present.
5. A Lie Agreed Upon– “I’m tired of living in a tragedy I’m tired of feeling empty” I struggled for a long time after those events to feel fulfilled in my life because all three things that happened were tragedies, and I felt empty for a long time. I ended up meeting my beautiful girlfriend, and she helped me start to heal and get to a better place. But when I heard that line — damn, did it hit me.
6. Nothing You Can Do-“The walls repeat old hopes and dreams“I wouldn’t call myself a jack of all trades, but I’ve written some shitty songs and decent poems, and spent many nights playing melodies in my dark room, wishing it was crowded. I’ve prayed to God to fulfill my hopes and dreams, and I’ve cried beneath my sheets. I still hold on to my old hopes and dreams, and these walls have heard them all. So, does this line mean something to me? Yeah — and I will never give up on my hopes and dreams, because that would mean giving up on me.
7. Ruby Ann– “I’d burn this whole town down just to prove I was enough” Let me tell you — when I first met my girlfriend, I was so scared I didn’t even ask her for her number. She was the most beautiful girl I’d ever seen (and still is), but I was so nervous I made a mutual friend give me her number.At first, she wanted nothing to do with me. I tried everything I knew to try at 16 to get her to go out with me, but she swore up and down she didn’t want a boyfriend. Still, we talked every day.Then one night, after some stuff went down at home, I was pissed and headed into town from what used to be, at that time, our twenty-seven-and-a-half-acre ranch. I called her.We met at a gas station, talking and listening to music, when Fishing in the Dark came on — and I kissed her.Now, we’re coming up on four years together.I didn’t end up burning the whole town down to prove I was enough, but I would’ve if we hadn’t met up that night.So that line makes me think about my beautiful, amazing girlfriend.
8. Leaving Town– “I’m mostly happyWith the life I chose” Are any of us fully happy with the life we chose? We all know there was a different path we could’ve gone down — a girl that got away, a wrong choice we made that set us on the wrong path, and maybe another choice that changed our life for the better. We would be completely different people if we hadn’t done everything the exact way we did. I know that’s the truth for me. But besides a few things, I’m mostly happy with the life I chose. I sure as hell wouldn’t change any of it — it made me who I am today.
9. What Was Advertised– “Did you dig yourself a holewith your lack of self-control?” I might only be twenty, but I’ve dug some very deep holes in my past — either from a lack of self-control or maybe just plain stupidity. I partied a lot when I was younger, and that got me into some trouble. It also made me lose the first of only two girls I’ve ever truly loved.I was put on parole when I was younger and got into some bad fights — fights I don’t regret at all (and I stand on that one). I learned some very hard lessons at a young age and had to grow up quick. I’m not the smartest person, but I’m not the dumbest either.I know how to love and be kind, but I also know how to cheat and lie. So yeah, I’ve dug some deep holes with my lack of self-control, and I probably still will — but I’ve also become a better, smarter, kinder, and simpler person because of it.
10. The Devil Plies His Trade– “All you ever needed was some help alongto see what’s really true” Without my girlfriend and my old friends, I’d never have changed my ways. But they helped me get over lots of hurdles and helped me see the truth. My ex blamed me for what happened, even though everyone — including her friends and family — said it wasn’t my fault and that there was never anything I could’ve done to prevent it. But I never believed it.Until one day, after a spring football practice, I was sitting in my locker. This was when I had just moved — I hadn’t even met my girlfriend yet. There were three guys I didn’t really have an issue with, but we didn’t go out of our way to talk to each other. That day, though, one of them could tell I was struggling. He waited until everyone else had left, so it was just me and him, and we talked. I kind of let him in on what was going on in my life and about my ex, and he helped me realize the truth.Nobody ever really knew how close of friends we became during those last two years of high school, but without him, some of my other old friends, and my girlfriend helping me along the way, I’d have never seen the truth.
11. Forgiving You– “Forgiving you is a thing I can doNo matter what you have done wrong” This brings us to the last song. It ended up being my least favorite, but it was still a great song—I just didn’t dig it as much as the others. However, the line that I chose as my favorite from this song is probably my favorite line from the whole album. Like I said, I’ve only ever loved two girls in my life, and the one I’m with, I love the most and plan to marry.She’s stood by me when most wouldn’t have—and most didn’t. She’s seen me at my highs and lows. I’ve made promises to her that she knew I couldn’t keep, and she forgave me every time. I haven’t always been the best to her, but she always stuck it out.We’ve shared many memories, and I pray I spend the rest of my life with her. She shouldn’t have forgiven me for the things I’ve done—I wouldn’t have—but she is a far better person than I’ll ever be. She is the kindest and most loving person I’ve ever met. She loves me for me, and she’s always forgiven me for the things I’ve done wrong.That’s why—even though it might be my least favorite song—it has my favorite line from the whole album.

Thank you for checking out my rankings of the songs on the album The Price of Admission. Go follow on X @_get_western or if you already do thanks for checking me out over here. If you feel like it subscribe for future posts down below.

Cheers

-Get Western