COUNTRY SONGS. REAL LIFE.

They still talk about her at the diner Same story ’bout the same girl, again and again Coffee cups gettin’ cold in their edgy fingers They swear she’d broken every wild horse and every man They say she rolls her own smokes with only one hand She’d show up in town with a rusty red ‘89 Ford Kept a Bible on the dash like an old friend And a .30-30 rifle hidden behind the pick-up’s door Callie-Rose She leaves dust in the air and holes in your soul Laughin’ in your face as you hit the road While you could have sworn you’d be the one she chose With Callie-Rose You try to catch fire with your bare hands She burns her name in your heart and goes But who can really understand ’bout Callie-Rose Once she rode a black stallion straight through the fair Won the buckle and kissed the preacher’s son on a dare Beat the boys at pool with a wink and no shame Left a “thank you” note on a Harley she borrowed again Callie-Rose She leaves dust in the air and holes in your soul Laughin’ in your face as you hit the road While you could have sworn you’d be the one she chose With Callie-Rose You try to catch fire with your bare hands She burns her name in your heart and goes But who can really understand ’bout Callie-Rose Some say she’s a ghost in a faded blue jacket Driftin’ in the wind where the fields meet the sky Others say she’s real and she’s the small-town heart Who’s brave enough to say a lie? Callie-Rose She leaves dust in the air and holes in your soul Laughin’ in your face as you hit the road While you could have sworn you’d be the one she chose With Callie-Rose You try to catch fire with your bare hands She burns her name in your heart and goes But who can really understand ’bout… Callie-Rose She leaves dust in the air and holes in your soul Laughin’ in your face as you hit the road While you could have sworn you’d be the one she chose With Callie-Rose You try to catch fire with your bare hands She burns her name in your heart and goes Guess we will all die half in love with Callie-Rose

Dust in the mirror, wind in my face Old steady Harley keepin’ the pace How many roads did I travel? I can’t remember Must have seen thousands of places All of them promisin’ gold Never got rich But my freedom’s never been sold Up early mornin’, lights still on Tank full of gas, hit the road at dawn Never missed a chance to see the sun risin’ up Ridin’ on endless black ribbons Two-lanes that never get me bored Just lovin’ that old engine hummin’ Like never before Summer on wheels and the days roll on forever Ain’t nothin’ nowhere that could make me feel any better So this time I won’t be ridin’ back home Stoppin’ at diners, waiting in line Bunch of friendly faces smilin’ back at mine Coffee’s still strong and the talk feels warm as ever Every town becomes a doorway Someone new waves you inside Strangers start to feel like old buddies The farther you ride Summer on wheels and the days roll on forever Ain’t nothin’ nowhere that could make me feel any better So this time I won’t be ridin’ back home Thought I always knew where I was headin’ Thought I knew just how far I could roam But somewhere along the way I saw one more sunrise That’s when I knew I was already where I belong Summer on wheels and the days roll on forever Ain’t nothin’ nowhere that could make me feel any better So this time I’m not ridin’ back home

Woke up to a rooster Shoutin' like he owned the place Phone lit up like Christmas My sister’s yellin’ “Where’s your face?” Tux still on the hanger Ring still on the kitchen table Mama sends a picture Of a crowded chapel I missed my own damn wedding (God save my soul) They were tossin’ rice, I was in a coffeehouse booth She was at the altar, I was chewin’ on the truth If timing is everything, mine went out and played hard to get I missed my own damn wedding And I ain’t lived it down yet Best man’s in a necktie Tryin’ to drag me through the phone Preacher’s tappin’ wristwatch Like it’s carved in stone Her dad’s on the front row Countin’ all the ways to hurt me I’m stuck behind a tractor Goin’ five in a fifty I missed my own damn wedding (Lord look at me) They were cuttin’ cake, I was stuck at the county line She was sayin’ “I do,” I was beggin’ for a sign If love is blind, then mine forgot its glasses at the vet I missed my own damn wedding And I ain’t lived it down yet (not yet) Now the band still plays our first dance Every Friday at the bar She just laughs and spins that ring On the dash of her car She says, “Boy, you’re lucky That I know your heart’s sincere” “I said ‘for better or for stupid’, That’s why you’re still here” I missed my own damn wedding (Pray for my soul) They were throwin’ flowers, I was racin’ ‘cross highway lines She was walkin’ out, I was slidin’ in right on time We signed those papers later at a drive-thru kitchenette Yeah, I missed my own damn wedding But I ain’t lost my girl yet Yeah, I missed my own damn wedding But I ain’t lost my girl yet Yeah, I missed my own damn wedding But I ain’t lost my girl yet

Walked in late through a cloud of smoke Band was playin’ halfway through your favourite song Whiskey-colored light fell on your little black dress I saw you purse your lips but then I might be wrong Some guy leaned in, you threw back your head Laughin’ like the whole room had just disappeared Could be me or could be nothin’ at all But somethin’ sure felt kinda strange in here Ooh Girl, I saw a spark in your eyes Ooh Girl, I saw that devilish smile Drinks kept comin’ to your table from the bar Couldn’t say whose coat hung from the back of your chair Don’t mean to crash whatever’s goin’ on But damn that guy is breathin’ way too close to your hair You turned around, caught me watchin’ you Stared back at me like you had nothin’ to hide Could’ve been the whiskey, could’ve been the lights But it sure looked pretty different from my side Ooh Girl, I saw that spark in your eyes Ooh Girl, I saw that devilish smile Maybe I’m just flirtin’ with jealousy Maybe fightin’ shadows of what I fear Could mean nothin’ to you, could mean somethin’ to me It ain’t clear… but Ooh Girl, I know that spark in your eyes Ooh Girl, I know that devilish smile Ooh Girl, I know that spark in your eyes Ooh Girl, I know that devilish smile

Sun flared on the barn tin But she didn’t squint She stood by the gate With her hand on my shirt Said, "I trust you, boy" Said it soft and sure So I took her fingers And laid them on the horse I tied the cinch slow Let the leather settle down She jumped when she heard That old buckle sound I said, "Easy, honey I'm right here beside you" Let me be your eyes Let me be your eyes Hold on to my voice And you just enjoy the ride Let me be your eyes Let me be your eyes See it all through your heart And I’ll just be your guide She found the horn first Then the warm-backed hide Her boot found the stirrup With a few careful tries I climbed up behind her Hands around her waist And the whole damn world Became a quiet place My horse took a breath Then he stepped real slow Down that dusty clay road Where the wild grass grows She leaned back against me Like she’d done that all her life Let me be your eyes Let me be your eyes Hold on to my voice And you just enjoy the ride Let me be your eyes Let me be your eyes See it all through your heart And I’ll just be your guide Halfway down the road She heard the rustle of leaves Said, "I can’t watch them move But I can sure feel the wind" Then she touched my wrist Like she knew my soul Said, "I don't need to see more Than what I feel with you" Let me be your eyes Let me be your eyes Hold on to my voice And you just enjoy the ride Let me be your eyes Let me be your eyes See it all through your heart And I’ll just be your guide As I closed my eyes And the horse stood still With her tucked in my arms I saw the world through her Let me see your heart Let me see your heart

You were always first in everything ‘Cept this time you shouldn’t have You left for work that Wednesday mornin’ By night my life was cut in half Your coffee cup’s still in my truck Your old jacket’s on my chair Your name still pops up on my phone — fuck I keep forgettin’ you’re not there You still owe me fifty years Of bad jokes and backyard beers Kids’ graduations, creaky chairs Or some brother’s night somewhere You still owe me gray hair talk Slow goodbyes on Sunday walks You stepped out, left me standing here You still owe me fifty years Mama called me shakin’ Said, “Honey, I can’t reach his phone” I drove that long road in silence Prayin’ a God I’d never known I signed my name on some clipboard While they handed me your shirt How can three lines on a paper Hold a lifetime of dirt and work? You still owe me fifty years Of fishing trips and midnight cheers Campfires and old guitar songs Arguin’ who played them right or wrong You still owe me busted plans Dumb ideas that got outta hand You went out, just disappeared You still owe me fifty years I still set your plate down Still talk to you like you're around Ask what you’d say, then remember Those answers are gone forever If there’s some place you can hear me Past those mem’ries and unpaid beers Pull a stool up by the angels… and wait for me You still owe me fifty years Of learnin’ how to face my fears All the time we thought we owned Turns out it was just a loan You still owe me one more drive The kind we had when you were still alive Guess I’ll just wait right here ’Til I see you in fifty years

Chairs move back, everybody stands Hands on belts, waitin’ for the band Rows line up like they’ve done it since they were born My boots are stiff, my hat is too low Searchin’ for the right wall, don’t know where to go People shout “We all know this one” — but I don’t Still I ain’t gonna run I’m just learnin’ the moves Try to stay in the groove Left heel, right toe, don’t fall behind But if I spin too far, girl, pull me back in line Laughin’ at my two left feet Am I still on the beat? I don’t know but I’ll be fine if I keep goin’ Just one step at a time You slide back, sayin’ “Follow me” Countin’ out loud — “One, two, three” Hands on my hips, I’m messin’ up every turn Lost my place, then I got back again Guess I’m just lucky you reached for my hand Folks all cheer, “Man, you’re doin’ just fine” — but I’m not Still I ain’t gonna quit I’m just learnin’ the moves Try to stay in the groove Left heel, right toe, don’t fall behind But if I spin too far, girl, pull me back in line Laughin’ at my two left feet Am I still on the beat? I don’t know but I’ll be fine if I keep goin’ Just one step at a time Little bit of stumble, little bit of sway Few wrong steps won’t spoil the day After all, this ain’t turnin’ out so bad Forgot about the boots, got rid of the hat Ain’t no time to care about that Got more kicks and turns to get right So I ain’t givin’ up I’m just learnin’ the moves Try to stay in the groove Left heel, right toe, now I’m right in time And if I spin too far, girl, I’ll get back in line Lookin’ at my two left feet They’re right on the beat I’m sure that I’ll be fine if I keep goin’ Just one step at a time I’m just learnin’ the moves Try to stay in the groove Left heel, right toe, now I’m right in time And if I spin too far, girl, I’ll get back in line Lookin’ at my two left feet They’re right on the beat I’m sure that I’ll be fine if I keep goin’ Just one step at a time

I seen you laughin' by the jukebox glow Turnin’ heads everywhere you’d go I’m nursin’ my drink, starin’ at my boots Thinkin’ up the lines that I could use You tossed your hair, I lost my nerve My heart hit the brakes, I forgot the words Every “hey there” died in my throat Then I pulled down my hat and choked So I went home and grabbed my old guitar The one missin’ a string and carryin’ scars Maybe I can’t walk up and ask for your name But I wrote you somethin’, just the same It ain’t much, just a three-chord heart From a back-row guy who don’t know where to start It ain’t fancy words, it ain’t radio strong I just wrote you A simple country love song On my way back I was talkin’ to the air Practicin’ jokes I’ll never share Radio on, but my mind was on you Tryin’ to guess what you’re into Are you the kind that loves porch swings? Sunday drives and little things? If small talk’s where I always fail Maybe a melody could tell my tale So I came home and grabbed my old guitar The one missin’ a string and carryin’ scars Maybe I can’t walk up and ask for your name But I wrote you somethin’, just the same It ain’t much, just a three-chord heart From a back-row guy who don’t know where to start It ain’t fancy words, it ain’t radio strong I just wrote you A simple country love song Maybe you’ll hear it on a Friday night Played by a band at the county fair site You’ll smile and say, “Is that song for me?” And I’ll be there grinnin’ by a cottonwood tree ‘Cause I went home and grabbed my old guitar The one missin’ a string and carryin’ scars If I can’t walk right up and say your name I’d rather let my quiet voice explain It ain’t much, just a three-chord heart From a back-row guy who don’t know where to start It ain’t fancy words, it ain’t radio strong I just wrote you, Yeah, I wrote you This simple country love song

Your shadow's still on that front porch swing Coffee cup stain in the midnight sink I keep finding you in the smallest things Like a ghost in this old house Truck keys hang where you used to leave yours Your boots lined up by the bedroom door Funny how quiet can sound like a war When there's no one here to drown it out Now it's too late to say I'm sorry Too late to turn this truck around You gave me a hundred chances I burned every one to the ground You ain't drivin' back down that highway You ain't callin' just to fight It's too late to say I'm sorry When you finally got it right Your note's still stuck on the Frigidaire "Call me if you ever really care" I laughed it off like it wasn't fair But I was the one who walked away Your mama asked if I'm doin' fine I lied and said that I'm feelin' right But the truth shows up every sleepless night In the space where you used to lay Now it's too late to say I'm sorry Too late to turn this truck around You gave me a hundred chances I burned every one to the ground You ain't drivin' back down that highway You ain't callin' just to fight It's too late to say I'm sorry When you finally got it right I practice words in the bathroom mirror But they fall flat, you don't hear 'em You're out there livin' what you deserved And I'm stuck here chasin' every word Now it's too late to say I'm sorry Too late to pull you from that plane You're a picture in a new town bar Laughin' loud under a different name You ain't waitin' on my excuses You ain't losin' sleep tonight It's too late to say I'm sorry You moved on and I just might Yeah, it's too late to say I'm sorry But I'll be sayin' it For the rest of my life

I learned to drive that old rusted Chevy Way before I was sent to school Mama worked a double every evenin’ Daddy was the ghost I never knew I stitched my own dress for graduation Didn’t quite fit but felt like pride So when guys said “girl, don’t talk so loud” I stared at them with an iron smile I don’t bow my head for nobody Boots on the ground, harder than stone I’ve taken every bruise, turned it into body armor Carved my whole life with my two bare hands I don’t need mercy to stand up for my name I earned my place at the table, no shame No shame If you believe love fits some rules You might be waiting in the wrong place Ain’t afraid of grease on my blue jeans Or care if you don’t ever see me painting my face You say, “You’re pretty tough for a lady” I say, “I’m tough, that’s all” If you can’t handle how I stand my ground Then, you can go on and walk I don’t bow my head for nobody Boots on the ground, harder than stone I’ve taken every bruise, turned it into body armor Carved my whole life with my two bare hands I don’t need mercy to stand up for my name I earned my place at the table, no shame No shame Someday I’ll sit on the second-row pew I’ll say grace and I’ll tell the truth And if they whisper ’bout the girl I became I’ll lift my chin, say “I’m proud of my name” I don’t bow my head for nobody Boots on the ground, harder than stone I’ve taken every bruise, turned it into body armor Carved my whole life with my two bare hands I don’t need mercy to stand up for my name I earned my place at the table, no shame No shame

My dad would come home with mud on his boots The sun going down behind the maple line He’d argue all afternoon, chippin’ in on neighbor disputes ’Bout fences or trucks, or whatever went wrong that time But when the hard work was done and the tools went quiet Someone cracked a bottle, shoulders came down They’d sit on the porch well past sunset Like none of that puffin’ was worth draggin’ home My old man and his folks didn’t use fancy words But the ones they chose came straight from the heart I still end the day with a cold one, like they used to But I wish the porch wasn’t empty when it gets dark Same houses, side by side, sharing the same land Fresh paint where the old marks were set Neighbors puff all day with their phones and legal demands Careful now ’cause every word’s somethin’ you can’t forget When the long day ends and the noise ain't there no more No one lingers and no one stays The lights go out early behind closed doors Like something heavier followed them home My old man and his folks didn’t use fancy words But the ones they chose came straight from the heart I still end the day with a cold one, like they used to But I wish the porch wasn’t empty when it gets dark Where did everybody go? When did it get so quiet around here? All the folks that I used to know Ain’t nowhere near My old man and his folks didn’t use fancy words But the ones they chose came straight from the heart I still end the day with a cold one, like they used to But I wish the porch wasn’t empty when it gets dark But I wish the porch wasn’t empty when it gets dark But I wish the porch wasn’t empty when it gets dark

I left with one cheap bag And a map folded wrong Grandma kissed my forehead Said, "Boy, better be strong" Mile after mile Searchin' my roots I built my real name By stickin' to the truth Every road bend said go Every fence said stay But that same inner fire Kept me on my way Long journey, long road I've been walkin' on Long journey, long road But I ain't lost, I know Feel it now! Ain't no turnin' back Long journey, long road Leads me home at last I slept in my truck Had just enough food Worked my whole life By my own damn rules Hands full of calluses Heart full of songs Every wrong turn Still carried me on Every road bend said go Every fence said stay But that same inner fire Kept me on my way Long journey, long road I've been walkin' on Long journey, long road But I ain't lost, I know Feel it now! Ain't no turnin' back Long journey, long road Leads me home at last When the nights got heavy And my voice ran thin I’d see Grandma’s face And start walking again One more step One more breath Till the hardest miles Turned into strength Long journey, long road I've been walkin' on Long journey, long road But I ain't lost, I know Feel it now! Ain't no turnin' back Long journey, long road Leads me home at last Long journey, long road Ain't no turnin' back Long journey, long road Take me home at last