The Limited Series

She dropped her boy at school on time
One less worry on her mind
Now it's off to work and on the radio
Come's an old familiar song
And then the d.j.'s voice comes on
And say's he's back in town tonight for one last show.

Her eyes well up with tears
God could it be it's been ten years
Since that autumn night outside the county fair
When two strangers shared a night
And in the darkness found a light
That to this day is still alive and burning there.

He asked her twice to come along
They said good-bye at the break of dawn
'cause you can't hold back the wind
If it's meant to be again
Then someday he'll find his way back to her arms.

The marquee misspelled his name
And not too many people came
But that didn't matter to them
They laughed and loved all through the night
And as they faced the morning light
They found themselves standing there again.

And he asked her twice to come along
They said good-bye at the break of dawn
As his bus left out she cried
With him standing by her side
That ol' wind had once again found it's way home.
Someday he'll tell her about the money he hid
And someday she'll tell him that the boy is his kid.
But for right now they're both in love
The only thing they're thinkin' of
Is that they're finally where their hearts have always been.

You know a dream is like a river
Ever changin' as it flows
And a dreamer's just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what's behind you
And never knowing what's in store
Makes each day a constant battle
Just to stay between the shores.

(chorus)
And i will sail my vessel
'til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If i never try
So i will sail my vessel
'til the river runs dry.

Too many times we stand aside
And let the waters slip away
'til what we put off 'til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don't you sit upon the shoreline
And say you're satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide.

*chorus*
And there's bound to be rough waters
And i know i'll take some falls
But with the good lord as my captain
I can make it through them all.

*chorus*
Yes, i will sail my vessel
'til the river runs dry
'til the river runs dry

I went to work for her that summer
A teenage kid so far from home
She was a lonely widow woman
Hell-bent to make it on her own
We were a thousand miles from nowhere
Wheat fields as far as i could see
Both needing something from each other
Not knowing yet what that might be.

'til she came to me one evening
Hot cup of coffee and a smile
In a dress that i was certain
She hadn't worn in quite a while
There was a difference in her laughter
There was a softness in her eyes
And on the air there was a hunger
Even a boy could recognize.

She had a need to feel the thunder
To chase the lightning from the sky
To watch a storm with all its wonder
Written in her lover's eyes
She had to ride the heat of passion
Like a comet burning bright
Rushing headlong in the wind
Now where only dreams have been
Burning both ends of the night.

That summer wind was all around me
Nothing between us but the night
When i told her that i'd never
She softly whispered that's alright
And then i watched her hands of leather
Turn to velvet in a touch
There's never been a summer
When i have ever learned so much.

We had a need to feel the thunder
To chase the lightning from the sky
To watch a storm with all its wonder
Written in her lover's eyes
She had to ride the heat of passion
Like a comet burning bright
Rushing headlong in the wind
Now where only dreams have been
Burning both ends of the night.

I often think about that summer
The sweat, the moonlight and the lace
And i have rarely held another
When i haven't seen her face
And every time i pass a wheat field
And watch it dancing with the wind
Although i know it isn't real
I swear inside i feel
Her hungry arms again.

She had a need to feel the thunder
To chase the lightning from the sky
To watch a storm with all its wonder
Written in her lover's eyes
She had to ride the heat of passion
Like a comet burning bright
Rushing headlong in the wind
Now where only dreams have been
Burning both ends of the night.

Rushing in long in the wind
Now where only dreams have been
Burnin' both ends of the night

There's a fire burning bright
At our house tonight
Slow music playing
And soft candlelight
On her lips i keep tasting
The warm red wine
I'm there in her arms
But it's all in my mind.

(chorus)
The snow is piled high on the highway tonight
I'm a ship lost at sea on this ocean of white
Eighteen wheels anchored somewhere out of dover
I wish i could hold her
Instead of huggin' this old cold shoulder.

This old highway
Is like a woman sometimes
She can be your best friend
But she's the real jealous kind
She's the lady that leads me
To the life i dream of
She's the mistress that keeps me
From the ones that i love

*chorus*
God, i wish i could hold her
Instead of huggin' this old cold shoulder

Well, i don't know what my uncle did
But he must have done it right
They sure strung him up one saturday night
He had spent his whole life fussin'
Would have spent his last breath cussin'
'til he realized the deal was really done
He started screamin' "hallelujah!"
Tryin' to make his peace with everyone

Yeah, he was kickin' and screamin'
Just like he came in
He was kickin' and screamin', darlin'
Right to the bitter end
Ain't it funny how we come in kickin' giddy-up
And go out hollerin' whoa
Lord, we never want to be here
Sure don't ever want to go.

Well, i could hear those church bells ringin'
To my best friend i was clingin'
Screamin' "if you love me brother don't let me go"
Well then the whole scene was repeated
Two years later i begged and pleaded
Screamin' "if you love me, honey,
Now you know you wouldn't want to let me go"
No, i didn't want to do it
But i sure don't want to see it come undone.

Yeah, i was kickin' and screamin'
Just like i came in
I was kickin' and screamin', darlin'
Right to the bitter end
Ain't it funny how we come in kickin' giddyup
And go out hollerin' whoa
Lord, we never want to be here
Sure don't ever want to go.

*repeat*

He could see the storm clouds rollin' across the hill
He barely beat the rain in from the field
And between the backdoor slammin she heard
Him say
"damn this rain and damn this wasted day"
But shed been waiting for this day for oh so long
She was standin in the kitchen with nothin but her
Apron on
And in disbelief he stood and he stared awhile
When their eyes met they both began to smile

(chorus)
Somewhere other than the night
She needs to hear i love you
Somewhere other than the night
She needs to know you care
She wants to know shes needed
And she needs to be held tight
Some where other than the night

They spent the day wrapped up in a blanket
On the front porch swing
He'd come to realize he'd neglected certain things
And there are times she feels alone even by his sided
It was the first time she ever saw him cry

(chorus)
To know shes needed
She needs to be held tight
Somewhere other than the night

Oh i said a little prayer tonight
Before i came on stage
As i came walkin' past the drivers and the locals on the union wage
I asked the dear lord up in heaven
Let me treat the music right
Then i prayed that detroit
Goes wild tonight.

Seven pickers and all our gear in a rental van
Playin' music never sleepin' and workin' on a neon tan
We played the barn down in sanford florida
For bev roberts out in camden park
We plugged it in up east at bull run and the place went dark.

Back when the old stuff was new
Back before the buses and the hard workin' boys in the crew
It was one big party
But the business called it payin' our dues
Back when the old stuff was new.

Oh the stories we could tell
If it weren't for the code of the road
About the buckboard, bear creek, cowboys, and the grizzly rose
You know the weather turned bad in scottsdale
A tornado nearly stole the show
We just danced in the rain and listened to the thunder roll.

Back when the old stuff was new
Hats off to the k.c. opry and ella guru's
It was one big party
Uncle joe you know we owe it to you
Back when the old stuff was new.

No rules young fools comin' from the old school
Takin' on the world alone
Next date can't wait tearin' up the interstate
Every place we played was home
Balls out no doubt this is what it's all about
Beggin' for a place to play
Swingin' with our old friends
Prayin' that it never ends
Wouldn't trade a single day.

Back when the old stuff was new
Back before the buses and the hard workin' boys in the crew
It was one big party
But the paper's called it payin' our dues
Back when the old stuff was new.

Hey it's still one big party
You can call it whatever you choose
You make me feel like the old stuff is new

She was born to a mother trucker
Raised behind the wheel
So you can blame it on the highway
For the way she can't sit still
She says life is like a windshield
It ain't no rear view mirror
The only way to get where you're goin'
Is find that higher gear
And keep it

(chorus)
Rollin'
Life's gonna' run you over if you don't get goin'
She said i wanna' fell the earth move under me
Movin' with the motion of a melody
Oh i get the blues if the rhythm ain't got no soul
You got to keep it
Rollin'.

Well i knew that i was in trouble
When she told me that talk was cheap
Said if you're tired get on the sofa
'cause the bed's no place to sleep lord it knocked me on my knees
And i knew if i was gonna' get naked
I was gonna have to roll up my sleeves.
And keep it
Rollin'

*chorus*
So i talked her into gettin' married
But she wouldn't hang up her wheels
I was afraid i'd take a back seat
To the way the highway feels
But each day she's pullin' over
More than she used to
She knows love is like the highway
The main thing you gotta do
Is keep it rollin'

On the eighth day god noticed a problem
For there below him stood a cowboy alone
Stubborn and proud, reckless and loud
God knew he'd never make it on his own
So god looked out all over creation
And listened as that cowboy prayed
God took passion and thunder
Patience and wonder then he sent down
The best thing that god ever made.

(chorus)
Cowboys and angels leather and lace
Salt of the earth meets heavenly grace
Cowboys and angels tested and tried
It's a long way to heaven
And one hell of a ride.

Nothin's changed since the dawn of creation
For you will find them together today
And only heaven above them knows why
She loves him
But he must be the reason she don't fly away.

*chorus*
It's a long way to heaven
And one hell of a ride.

Three thirty in the morning,
Not a soul in sight,
The city's lookin' like a ghost town
On a moonless summer night.
Raindrops on the windshield,
There's a storm moving in.
He's headin' back from somewhere
That he never should have been.
And the thunder rolls.
And the thunder rolls.

Every light is burnin'
In a house across town.
She's pacin' by the telephone
In her faded flannel gown.
Askin' for miracle,
Hopin' she's not right,
Prayin' it's the weather
That's kept him out all night.
And the thunder rolls.
And the thunder rolls.

(chorus)
The thunder rolls
And the lightnin' strikes.
Another love grows cold
On a sleepless night,
As the storm blows on
Out of control
Deep in her heart
The thunder rolls.

She's waitin' by the window
When he pulls into the drive
She rushes out to hold him
Thankful he's alive
But on the wind and rain
A strange new perfume blows
And the lightnin' flashes in her eyes
And he knows that she knows
And the thunder rolls
And the thunder rolls

*chorus*

(third verse)
She runs back down the hallway
To the bedroom door
She reaches for the pistol
Kept in the dresser drawer
Tells the lady in the mirror
He won't do this again
Cause tonight will be the last time
She'll wonder where he's been

Stuck in an airport in austin, all of the flights are delayed
And as the rain keeps fallin' the mem'ries keep callin' me back
To another time and place
Back to a rainy dy in oklahoma, she was workin' at this roadside cafe
And it was just her and me and looked like it would be
At least 'till the storm rolled away
I played "please come to boston" on the jukebox
She said hey that's my favorite song
The next thing i knew the song was through
And we were still dancin' along
And with that look in her eyes she pulled from me
Then she pulled off that apron she wore
And with her hand in mine we turned off the sign
And locked the rain outside the door

(chorus)
Every time that it rains i can hear her heart callin'
It rains, i can see that dress fallin'
The storm clouds roll on, still the memory remains
Every time that it rains
One late rainy night i got a phone call
So i went back to see her again
And through the dnce we both stumbled and with the buttons we fumbled
So we decided just to call it at friends
If we ever had a thing now it's over and only the memory remains
Of a roadside cafe on a september day
I relive every time that it rains

*chorus*

He'll never wear a business suit
Cowboy hats and bull hide boots just suit him fine
See that buckle shine

He won it in a rodeo
On a horse named desperado
And he won the ride but he broke his back
Hit so hard he heard it crack
No more rodeo

But you can't keep a good man down
A line of western wear uptown heard of his fame
And they bought his name

Now he looks down from a suite
At the silver limo parked out on the street
And he's not just a face in a martini crowd
He drinks long neck bud and gets a little loud
The mans back on his feet

He's an uptown down-home good ol boy
In a business world so fast
On a horse of a different color
But hell hang on til the last
He's still the local hero
He's the hometown pride and joy
He's an uptown down-home good ol boy

A woman loved him through it all mbr> through his rowdy days and his hardest fall when he almost died
She stayed by his side

She's still right there today
He wouldn't have it any other way
And he never did get too proud
To hang out with the same old crowd
Were proud to say

He's an uptown down-home good ol boy
In a business world so fast
Oh but its a different saddle
Than he once rode in the past
He's the hometown pride and joy
He's an uptown down-home good ol boy
He's an uptown down-home good ol boy

She swears there's nothing wrong, but something's missing
She's never been much good at telling lies
'cause you can hear the sound of leaving, if you listen
This may be california, but oklahoma's in her eyes


(chorus)

I've got a good thing going
It's plain to see she's tired of hanging on
I've got a good thing going
It's killing me that she's as good as gone


By now she must be tired of always giving
And tired of what she's getting in return
I guess oklahoma's more her style of living
'cause i can see her heart is heading
'cross a bridge i thought she'd burned


*chorus*

Lord it's killing me that she's as good as gone.

One hand
Reaches out
And pulls a lost soul from harm
While a thousand more go unspoken for
They say what good have you done
By saving just this one
It's like whispering a prayer
In the fury of a storm.

(chorus)
And i hear them saying you'll never change things and no matter
What you do it's still the same thing
But it's not the world that i am changing i do this so this
World will know that it will not change me.

This heart
Still believes
The love and mercy still exist.
While all the hatred rage and so many say
That love is all but pointless in madness such as this
It's like trying to stop a fire
With the moisture from a kiss.

*chorus*
As long as one heart still holds on
Then hope is never really gone.

*chorus*
What i do is so
This world will know
That it will not change me

Hey, all the neighbors lights
Came on last night
Just like they do every time
We have a little fight
It's gettin' to the point
We can't get along
We're always fighting about things
That should be dead and gone.

(chorus)
We bury the hatchet
But leave the handle stickin' out
We're always diggin' up things
We should forget about
When it comes to forgettin'
Baby, there ain't no doubt
We bury the hatchet
But leave the handle sticking out.

Well, i was kissing on cindy
Hey, that i won't deny
But that's a long time ago
I let a dead dog lie
But if you want to cut deep
How 'bout you and ol' joe
I caught you down at the creek
Just ten years ago.

*chorus*
Hey, we got enough on each other
To wage a full scale war
If we could ever remember
What we were fightin' for

*chorus*
We bury the hatchet
But leave the handle stickin' out

Moonlight on canvas, midnight and wine
Two shadows starting to softly combine
The picture they're painting
Is one of the heart
And to those who have seen it
It's a true work of art.

(chorus)
Oh, the red strokes
Passions uncaged
Thundering moments of tenderness rage
Oh, the red strokes
Tempered and strong (fearlessly drawn)
Burning the night like the dawn

Steam on the window, salt in a kiss
Two hearts have never pounded like this
Inspired by a vision
That they can't command
Erasing the borders
With each brush of a hand

*chorus*
Oh, the blues will be blue and the jealousies green
But when love picks its shade it demands to be seen

*chorus*
Oh, the red strokes
Passions uncaged
Thundering moments of tenderness rage
Oh, the red strokes
Tempered and strong (fearlessly drawn)
Burning the night like the dawn.

Steam on the window, salt in a kiss
Two hearts have never pounded like this.

Our guardian star lost all its glow
The day that i lost you
It lost all its glitter the day you said no
And its grey skies turned to blue.

Like him i am doubtful
That your love is true
So if you decide to call on me
Ask for mr. blue.

I'm mr. blue
When you say you love me
The prove it by goin' out on the sly
Provin' your love is untrue
Call me mr. blue.

I sleep alone each night
Wait by the phone each night
But you don't call
And i won't hurt my pride
Call me mister,

I won't tell you
When you paint the town
A bright red to turn it upside down
I'm painting it too
But i'm painting it blue.

I sleep alone each night
Wait by the phone each night
But you don't call
And i won't hurt my pride
Call me mister.

I won't tell you
When you paint the town
A bright red to turn it upside down
I'm painting it too
But i'm painting it blue.
Call me mr. blue.
Call me mister.

(chorus)
She wants something with a ring to it
Like a church bell makes
Like a pretty white gown to wear
And some vows to take
She want's something with a ring to it
I think i understand
Gonna' have to put a ring on her finger
If i'm gonna' be her man

My baby's playin' hard to please
And i think i figured out
What it is she want's from me
Cause when i hold her close
When we go out at night
I can hardly see the moonlight
From the diamonds in her eyes

(repeat chorus)
My baby did but now she don't
And if i don't say i do
It's a safe bet that she won't
Love me like she used to
When our love began
Now the only way to change her tune
Is with a wedding band

(repeat chorus)

Well i'm shamemeless when it comes to loving you
I'll do anything you want me to
I'll do anything at all.

And i'm standing here for all the world to see
Oh baby, that's what's left of me
Don't have very far to fall

You know now i'm not a man who's ever been
Insecure about the world i've been living in
I don't break easy, i have my pride
But if you need to be satisfied

I'm shameless, oh honey, i don't have a prayer
Every time i see you standin' there
I go down upon my knees.

And i'm changing, swore i'd never compromise
Oh, but you convinced me otherwise
I'll do anything you please.

You see in all my life i've never found
What i couldn't resist, what i couldn't turn down
I could walk away from anyone i ever knew
But i can't walk away from you.

I have never let anything have this much control over me
I work too hard to call my life my own
I have never let anything have this much control over me
I work too hard to call my life my own
And i've made myself a world and it's worked so perfectly
But it's your world now, i can't refuse
I've never had so much to lose
Oh, i'm shameless.

You know it should be easy for a man who's strong
To say he's sorry or admit when he's wrong
I've never lost anything i've ever missed
But i've never been in love like this.

It's out of my hands.

I'm shameless, i don't have the power now
I don't want it anyhow
So i got to let it go.

Oh, i'm shameless, shameless as a man can be
You make a total fool of me
I just wanted to you to know.

Oh, i'm shameless, i just wanted you to know
Oh, i'm shameless, oh, i'm down on my knees

Shameless

Last time i saw her it was turnin' colder
But that was years ago
Last i heard she had moved to boulder
But where she's now, i don't know
But there's somethin' 'bout this time of year
That spins my head around
Takes me back, makes me wonder
What she's doin' now.

(chorus)
'cause what she's doin' now is tearin' me apart
Fillin' up my mind and emptying my heart
I can hear her call each time the cold wind blows
And i wonder if she knows what she's doin' now.

Just for laughs, i dialed her old number
But no one knew her name
Hung up the phone, sat there and wondered
If she'd ever done the same
I took a walk in the evenin' wind
To clear my head somehow
But tonight i lie here thinkin'
What's she doin' now?

*chorus*

They packed up all his buckles
And shipped his saddle to his dad
And by the way the house looked
She must have took it bad.
The workers come on monday
To fix the door and patch the wall.
They say she just went crazy
The night she got the call.

He was up in wyoming
And drew a bull no man could ride.
He promised her he'd turn out
Well it turned out that he lied.
And their dreams that they'd been livin'
In the california sand
Died right there beside him in cheyenne.

(chorus)
They she just went crazy
Screamin' out his name
She ran out into the ocean
And to this day they claim
That if you go down by the water
You'll see her footprints in the sand
'cause every night she walks the beaches of cheyenne.

They never found her body
Just her diary by her bed
It told about the fight they had
And the words that she had said.
When he told her he was ridin'
She said then i don't give a damn
If you never come back from cheyenne.

*chorus*
Nobody can explain it
Some say she's still alive
They even claim they've seen her
On the shoreline late at night.
So if you go down by the water
You'll see her footprints in the sand
'cause every night she walks the beaches of cheyenne.

Every night she walks the beaches of cheyenne.

When the rain is blowing in your face
And the whole world is on your case
I could offer you a warm embrace
To make you feel my love

When evening shadows and stars appear
And there is no one to dry your tears
I could hold you for a million years
To make you feel my love

I know you haven't made your mind up yet
But i would never do you wrong
Ive known it from the moment that we met
There's no doubt in my mind where you belong

I'd go hungry i'd go black and blue
I'd go crawling down the avenue
There aint nothing i wouldn't do
To make you feel my love

The storms are raging on a rolling sea
And on the highway of regret
The winds of change are blowing wild and free
You ain't see nothin' like me yet

There ain't nothin' that i wouldn't do
Go to the ends of the earth for you
Make you happy make your dreams come true
To make you feel my love

It's a big estate
With wrought iron gates
And palm trees standin' tall
Fancy mirrors and chandeliers
Comfort wall to wall
And the ocean air is so crisp and clear
And they rave about our view
But there aint no mountain breeze
And there aint no hickory trees
And this aint tennessee
And she aint you

There's a bedroom suite
Where she comes to me
And as her fingers touch my face
I close my eyes and i fantasize
Of another time and place
What she feels is so warm and real
And i know her love is true
And she tries so hard to please
Still i think sometimes she sees
That this aint tennessee
And she aint you

It's not that it's not good enough
And it's not that i'm not man enough
There's just somethin' easy goin' that i love
About you and tennessee

So i made up my mind to learn my lines
And try to play the part
But part of me is in tennessee
And deep down in my heart
I miss my smoky mountain home
And i miss your lovin' too
And it's deep inside of me
And it's always gonna be
Cause this ain't tennessee
And she ain't you

We call them cool
Those hearts that have no scars to show
The ones that never do let go
And risk the tables being turned.

We call them fools
Who have to dance within the flame
Who chance the sorrow and the shame
That always comes with getting burned.
But you've got to be tough when consumed by desire
'cause it's not enough just to stand outside the fire.

We call them strong
Those who can face this world alone
Who seem to get by on their own
Those who will never take the fall.
We call them weak
Who are unable to resist
The slightest chance love might exist
And for that forsake it all.
They're so hell-bent on giving, walking a wire
Convinced it's not living if you stand outside the fire.

(chorus)
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire.
There's this love that is burning
Deep in my soul
Constantly yearning to get out of control
Wanting to fly higher and higher
I can't abide
Standing outside the fire.

*chorus*
Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried, it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire.

His eyes are cold and restless
His wounds have almost healed
And she'd give half of texas
Just to change the way he feels
She knows his love's in tulsa
And she knows he's gonna go
Well, it ain't no woman, flesh and blood
It's that damned old rodeo.

(chorus)
Well, it's bulls and blood
It's dust and mud
It's the roar of a sunday crowd
It's the white in his knuckles
The gold in the buckle
He'll win the next go 'round
It's boots and chaps
It's cowboy hats
It's spurs and latigo
It's the ropes and the reins
And the joy and the pain
And they call the thing rodeo.

She does her best to hold him
When his love comes to call
But his need for it controls a man
And her back's against the wall
And it's "so long girl, i'll see you."
When it's time for him to go
You know the woman wants her cowboy
Like he wants his rodeo

*chorus*
It'll drive a cowboy crazy
It'll drive the man insane
And he'll sell off everything he owns
Just to pay to play her game
And a broken home and some broken bones
Is all he'll have to show
For all the years that he spent chasin'
This dream they call rodeo.

*chorus*
Well, it's bulls and blood
It's dust and mud
It's the roar of a sunday crowd
It's the white in his knuckles
The gold in the buckle
He'll win the next go 'round
It's boots and chaps
It's cowboy hats
It's spurs and latigo
It's the ropes and the reins
And the joy and the pain
And they call the thing rodeo.
It's the broncs and the blood
It's the steers and the mud
And they call the thing rodeo

Well, it took a little time
But i guess you finally learned
That promises get broken
And bridges do get burned
You've been siftin' through the ashes
Just tryin' to find a flame
Holdin' on to nothin'
You're a victim of the game.

You were standin' way too close
To see it all fall apart
And there were things you couldn't hear
'cause you were listenin' with your heart
But you can't say i didn't warn you
Now there's no one else to blame
There's on one quite as blind
As a victim of the game.

(chorus)
And it don't matter who you are
It treats everyone the same
All you need's a heart
To be a victim of the game.

You know it's really gettin' to you
When you take to tellin' lies
And you can try to fool your friends
But yo can't look 'em in the eye
There ain't no standin' tall
In the shadow of the shame
When everybody knows
That you're a victim of the game.

*chorus*
Oh, you know, when i look into your eyes
I can really feel the pain
Starin' in the mirror
At a victim of the game

This aint comin from no prophet
Just an ordinary man
When i close my eyes i see
The way this world shall be
When we all walk hand in hand

When the last child cries for a crust of bread
When the last man dies for just words that he said
When there's shelter over the poorest head
We shall be free

When the last thing we notice is the color of skin
And the first thing we look for is the beauty within
When the skies and the oceans are clean again
Then we shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight, walk proud
'cause we shall be free

When we're free to love anyone we choose
When this worlds big enough for all different views
When we all can worship from our own kind of pew
Then we shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Have a little faith
Hold out
'cause we shall be free

And when money talks for the very last time
And nobody walks a step behind
When there's only one race and thats mankind
Then we shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straigt,
Walk proud,
Have a little faith,
Hold out
We shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free
Stand straight,
Have a little faith
We shall be free

We shall be free
We shall be free

('til the sun comes up)
Six o'clock on friday evening
Momma doesn' t know she's leaving
'til she hears the screen door slamming
Rubber squealin', gears a-jamming
Local country station just a blaring on the radio
Pick him up at seven and they're headin' to the rodeo
Momma's on the front porch screamin' out her warning
"girl you better get your red head
Back in bed before the morning."

Nine o'clock the show is ending
But the fun is just beginning
She knows he's anticipating
But she's gonna keep him waiting
Grab a bite to eat
And then they're heading to the honkey tonk
But loud crowds and line dancing
Just ain't what they really want
Drive out to the boondocks and park down by the creek
And where it's george strait 'til real late
And dancing cheek to cheek.

(chorus)
Ain't going down 'til the sun comes up
Ain't givin' in 'til they get enough
Going 'round the world in a pickup truck
Ain't goin' down 'til the sun comes up

Ten 'til twelve is wine and dancing
Midnight starts the hard romancing
One o'clock that truck is rocking
Two is coming, still no stopping
Break to check the clock at three
They're right on where they want to be
Four o'clock get up and going
Five o'clock that rooster's crowing

*chorus*
Six o'clock on saturday
Her folks don't know he's on his way
The stalls are clean, the horses fed
They say she's grounded 'til she's dead
Well here he comes around the bend
Slowing down, she's jumping in
Hey mom, you're daughter's gone
And there they go again

*chorus*

Just the other night a hometown football game
My wife and i ran into my old high school flame
And as i introduced them the past came back to me
And i couldn't help but think of the way things used to be.

She was the one that i'd wanted for all times
And each night i'd spend prayin' that god would make her mine
And if he'd only grant me this wish i wished back then
I'd never ask for anything again.

(chorus)
Sometimes i thank god for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of god's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.

She wasn't quite the angel that i remembered in my dreams
And i could tell that time had changed me
Inn her eyes too it seemed
We tried to talk about the old days
There wasn't much we could recall
I guess the lord knows what he's doin' after all.

And as she walked away and i looked at my wife
And then and there i thankedd the good lord
For the gifts in my life.

*chorus*
Some of god's greatest gifts are all too often unanswered...
Some of god's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

Papa drove a truck nearly all his life
You know it drove mama crazy being a trucker's wife
The part she couldn't handle was the being alone
I guess she needed more to hold than just a telephone
Papa called mama each and every night
Just to ask her how she was and if us kids were alright
Mama would wait for that call to come in
When daddy'd hang up she was gone again.

(chorus)
Mama was a looker
Lord, how she shined
Papa was a good'n
But the jealous kind
Papa loved mama
Mama loved men
Mama's in the graveyard
Papa's in the pen.

Well, it was bound to happen and one night it did
Papa came home and it was just us kids
He had a dozen roses and a bottle of wine
If he was lookin' to surprise us, he was doin' fine
I heard him cry for mama up and own the hall
Then i h heard a bottle break against the bedroom wall
That old diesel engine made an eerie sound
When papa fired it up and headed into town.

Well, the picture in the paper showed the scene real well
Papa's rig was buried in the local motel
The desk clerk said he saw it all real clear
He never hit the brakes and he was shifting gears.

*chorus*

Nobody gets off in this town
Trains don't even slow down
My high school sweetheart's married and gone
They met on a bus to san antone
The greyhound stops! somebody gets on
But nobody gets off in this town

Nobody gets off in this town
Old folks 'round here wear a frown
Now let me see if i can set the scene
It's a one-dog town and he's old and mean
There's one stop light but it's always green
Nobody gets off in this town

Nobody gets off in this town
High school colors are brown
They can't drag main because it kicks up dust
Their cars and their dreams are all starting to rust
The high school dances are always a bust
Nobody gets off in this town

Nobody gets off in this town
They oughta just tear it down
Cause in the winter you freeze and in the summer you fry
Utility bill's the only thing that gets high
I'd go for a drink but this county is dry
Nobody gets off
Nobody gets off
Nobody gets off in this square old merry-go-round

No, nobody gets off in this town

Folks call me a maverick
Guess i ain't too diplomatic
I just never been the kind to go along
Just avoidin' confrontation
For the sake of conformation
And i'll admit i tend to sing a different song
But sometimes you just can't be afraid
To wear a different hat
If columbus had complied
This old world might still be flat
Nothin' ventured, nothin' gained
Sometimes you've got to go against the grain

Well, i have been accused
Of makin' my own rules
There must be rebel blood
Just a-runnin' through my veins
But i ain't no hypocrite
What you see is what you get
And that's the only way i know
To play the game
Old noah took much ridicule
For building his great ark
But after forty days and forty nights
He was lookin' pretty smart
Sometimes it's best to brave the wind and rain
By havin' strength to go against the grain

Well, there's more folks than a few
Who share my point of view
But they're worried
If they're gonna sink or swim
They'd like to buck the system
But the deck is tacked against 'em
And they're a little scared
To go out on a limb
But if you're gonna make a difference,
If you're gonna leave your mark.
You can't follow like a bunch of sheep
You got to listen to your heart
Go bustin' in like old john wayne
Sometimes you got to go against the grain

Nothin' ventured, nothin' gained
Sometimes you've got to go against the grain

I burned my hand, i cut my face
Heaven knows how long it's been
Since i've felt so out of place
I'm wonderin' if i'll fit in.

Debbie and charley said they'd be here by nine
And deb said she might bring a friend
Just my luck, they're right on time
So here i go again.

I'm gonna smile my best smile
And i'm gonna laugh like it's going out of style
Look into her eyes and pray that she don't see
That learning to live again is killing me.

Little cafe, table for four
But there's just conversation for three
I like the way she let me get the door
I wonder what she thinks of me.

Debbie just whispered, "you're doin' fine"
And i wish that i felt the same
She's asked me to dance, now her hand's in mine
Oh, my god, i've forgotten her name.

But i'm gonna smile my best smile
And i'm gonna laugh like it's going out of style
Look into her eyes and pray that she don't see
That learning to live again is killing me.

Now here we are beneath her porch light
And i say what a great time it's been
A kiss on the cheek, a whisper goodnight
And i say, "can i see you again".

And she just smiles her best smile
And she laughs like it's going out of style
Looks into my eyes and says, "we'll see"
Oh this learning to live again is killing me
God this learning to live again is killing me