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*

Well i wrote our names a thousand times
Just to see yours sitting nest to mine
Sent you flowers cards unsigned....anonymous

In days to come like days that passed
My heart beats for you, always has
Though you know me only as....anonymous

In dreams at night i carry your books for you
And when i rise a flame for you
Always too shy to carry the whole thing through

Like the light from that eternal flame
Burns for one without a name
My love forever will remain....anonymous

Oh you'll always wonder who it was
Who it was
It was just....anonymous

Well i wrote your names a thousand times
Just to see yours sitting next to mine
And i sent you flowers card unsigned

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

He's got a split finger wrap
And his rope's pulled way to tight
He's got a lunatic smile
'cause he's really drawn deep tonight.

He's got a fever, fever, fever, fever
Grab a hold of anything and hold on tight >br> it hits you like the venom from a rattle snake bite
We're all here 'cause he's not all there tonight.

He takes one breath
And time turns inside out
Then the gate busts open to the world he dreams about.

He's got a fever, fever, fever, fever
Stick a rope on anything 'cause he don't care
He'd even take a ride on the electric chair
We're all here cause he's not all there tonight.

He says it's really kind of simple
Keep your mind in the middle
While your butt spins 'round and 'round
Take heed to sankey's preachin'
Keep liftin' and reachin'
And ridin' like there ain't no clowns.

What he loves might kill him
But he's got no choice
He's a different breed
With a voice down deep inside
That's screamin' he was born to ride.

He's got a fever, fever, fever, fever
Fever makes you crazy 'cause it makes no sense
Like runnin' from your shadow out of self-defense
He won't run and baby he can't hide
He thinks the odds are even leavin' one hand tied
He gets so tired of hangin' on so tight
I know you think he's crazy well i think you're right
We're all here 'cause he's not all there that's right.

He told a good story and all of us kids listened
'bout his life on the border and the way it was then
And we all believed him and when he would finish
We'd ask the old cowboy to tell 'em again
You could almost hear those prairie winds blowin'
His saddle a creakin' 'neath his old faded jeans
You could taste the dry dust from the trail he was ridin'
As he sat there and painted those west texas scenes

(chorus)
And the grown-ups would tell us
You boys keep your distance, that old man's just tellin' you lies
But to all of us kids cowboy bill was a hero
Just as true as his blue texas skies

He told of a time when he rode with the rangers
Down on the pecos and he saved the day
Outnumbered by plenty, they were almost too cover
With thirty banditos headed their way
He looked back just in time to see a horse stumble
The captain went down and bill pulled up on his rains
And through a flurry of bullets he rescued the captain
And they rode for a sunset, just the story remains

*chorus*
Well i still remember the day that it happened
We waited and we waited but bill never showed
And the follks at the feed store said they hadn't seen him
So we set out for his place down old grist mill road

And we cried when we found him lying there with his mem'ries
The old trunk wide open, things scattered about
He was clutchin' a badge that said texas ranger
And an old "yeller" letter said texas is proud

*chorus*
Just as true as his blue texas skies

She was a girl on a wagon train
Headed west across the plains
The train got lost in a summer storm
They couldn't move west and they couldn't go home
Then she saw him ridin' through the rain
He took charge of the wagons and he saved the train
And she looked down and her heart was gone
The train went west but she stayed on
In lonesome dove.

A farmer's daughter with a gentle hand
A blooming rose in a bed of sand
She loved the man who wore a star
A texas ranger known near and far
So they got married and they had a child
But times were touch and the west was wild
So it was no surprise the day she learned
That her texas man would not return
To lonesome dove.

(chorus)
Back to back with the rio grande
A christian woman in the devil's land
She learned the language and she learned to fight
But she never learned how to beat the lonely nights
In lonesome dove, lonesome dove.

She watched her boy grow into a man
He had an angel's heart and the devil's hand
He wore his star for all to see
He was a texas lawman legacy
The one day word blew into town
It seemed the men that shot his father down
Had robbed a bank in cherico
The only thing 'tween them and mexico
Was lonesome dove.

The shadows stretched across the land
As the shots rang out down the rio grande
And when the smoke had finally cleared the street
The men lay at the ranger's feet
But legend tells to this very day
That shots were comin' from an alleyway
Though no one knows who held the gun
There ain't no doubt if you ask someone
In lonesome dove.

*chorus*

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.

They say mother earth is breathing
With each wave that finds the shore
Her soul rises in the evening
For to open twilights door
Her eyes are the stars in heaven
Watching o'er us all the while
And her heart it is in ireland
Deep within the emerald isle.

We are forty against hundreds
In someone elses bloody war
We know not why were fighting
Or what we're dying for
They will storm us in the morning
When the sunlight turns to sky
Death is waiting for its dance now
Fate has sentenced us to die.

(chorus)
Ireland i am coming home
I can see your rolling fields of green
And fences made of stone.
I am reaching out won't you take my hand
I'm coming home ireland.

Oh the captain he lay bleeding
I can hear him calling me
These men are yours now for the leading
Show them to their destiny
And as i look up all around me
I see the ragged tired and torn
I tell them to make ready
'cause we're not waiting for the morn.

*chorus*
Now the fog is deep and heavy
As we forge the dark and fear
We can hear their horses breathing
As in silence we draw near
There are no words to be spoken
Just a look to say good-bye
I draw a breath and night is broken
As i scream our battle cry.

*chorus*
I am home ireland

The girl at the bar she bought me a beer
And shed like to know if i'm new around here
And the gal that i danced with says shes all alone
Her friends have all left and she needs a ride home

Oh and there have been others who gave me the eye
But if they only knew they were wasting their time
Cause theres only one lover i can give my heart to
But you didn't want it and you broke it in two

(chorus)
(so tell me) which one of them will be you tonight
Oh which one will hold me in your arms so tight
I've forgotten whats wrong, given up on what's right
(tell me) which on of them will be you tonight

So i'll just smile and pretend and she'll never know
Who she's up against when she's holdin' me close
You're all that i want, girl, you're all that i need
And when i close my eyes, honey you're all i see

(repeat chorus)

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*

If your paycheck depends on the weather and the clock
If your conversation calls for
A little more than a coffee pot
If you need to pour your heart out
And try to rectify some situation
That you're facing
Contact your american honky-tonk bar association.

When uncle sam dips in your pocket
For most things you don't mind
But when your dollar goes to all of those
Standing in a welfare line
Well rejoice you have a voice
If you're concerned about the destination
Of this great nation
It's called the american honky-tonk bar association.
It represents the hardhat
Gunrack, achin'-back
Over taxed, flag-wavin', fun-lovin' crowd
They're heart is in the music
And they love to play it loud
There's no forms or applications
There's no red tape administrations
It's the american honky-tonk bar association.

We're all one big family
Throughout the cities and the towns
We don't reach for handouts
We reach for those who are down
And every local chapter has a seven day a week
Available consultation
For your frustration
It's called the american honky-tonk bar association.

It represents the mud flaps
Six pack, bare crack
Over-taxed, flag-wavin', fun-lovin' crowd
They're heart is in the music
And they love to play it loud
There's no forms or applications
There's no red tape administrations
It's the american honky-tonk bar association.

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

Blame it all on my roots
I showed up in boots
And ruined your black tie affair
The last one to know
The last one to show
I was the last one
You thought you'd see there
And i saw the surprise
And the fear in his eyes
When i took his glass of champagne
And i toasted you
Said, honey, we may be through
But you'll never hear me complain

(chorus)
'cause i've got friends in low places
Where the whiskey drowns
And the beer chases my blues away
And i'll be okay
I'm not big on social graces
Think i'll slip on down to the oasis
Oh, i've got friends in low places.

Well, i guess i was wrong
I just don't belong
But then, i've been there before
Everything's all right
I'll just say goodnight
And i'll show myself to the door
Hey, i didn't mean
To cause a big scene
Just give me an hour and then
Well, i'll be as high
As that ivory tower
That you're livin' in

*chorus*

(third verse)
I guess i was wrong
I just don't belong
But then, i've been there before
And everything is alright
I'll just say goodnight
And i'll show myself to the door
I didn't mean to cause a big scene
Just wait 'til i finish this glass
Then sweet little lady
I'll head back to the bar
And you can kiss my ass

*chorus*

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.

When loving turns to parting
I'm always the first to leave
Cause when it comes to heartaches
I'd rather give than to receive
I've never cried myself to sleep
Just praying i'll get through
I've never lost at love not counting you


(chorus)

Not counting you i've never had a heartache
Not counting you i never have been blue
There's no exceptions to the rule
I've never been nobody's fool
I've never lost at love not counting you


I've never got down on my knees
And asked the lord above
If he would only bring to me
The one i'm dreaming of
Begging to be taken back
And swearing i'll be true
Has never crossed my mind not counting you


*chorus*

There's no exceptions to the rule
I've never been nobody's fool
I've never lost at love not counting you


There's no exceptions to the rule
I've never been nobody's fool
I've never lost at love not counting you
No, i've never lost at love not counting you

From a phone booth in cheyenne
I made a promise to diane
No more rodeos
I'd gone my last go 'round.

The same promise that i made
In san antone and santa fe
But tonight i saddled up
And let her down.

(chorus)
Wild horses keep draggin' me away
And i'll lose more than i'm gonna win someday
Wild horses just stay wild
And her heart is all i break
Wild horses keep draggin' me away.

She'll watch me drive around her block
Gettin' courage up to stop
To make her one more promise
That i can't keep

The way i love the rodeo
I guess i should let her go
Before i hurt her more
Than she loves me

*chorus*

('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

Sometimes late at night
I lie awake and watch her sleeping
She's lost in peaceful dreams
So i turn out the lights and lay there in the dark
And the thought crosses my mind
If i never wake up in the morning
Would she ever doubt the way i feel
About her in my heart


(chorus)

If tomorrow never comes
Will she know how much i loved her
Did i try in every way to show her every day
That she's my only one
And if my time on earth were through
And she must face the world without me
Is the love i gave her in the past
Gonna be enough to last
If tomorrow never comes
'cause i've lost loved ones in my life
Who never knew how much i loved them
Now i live with the regret
That my true feelings for them never were revealed
So i made a promise to myself
To say each day how much she means to me
And avoid that circumstance
Where there's no second chance to tell her how i feel


*chorus*

So tell that someone that you love
Just what you're thinking of
If tomorrow never comes

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