I got a letter from a friend down in D.C. He wants to know what's up with me And why I never call or write him back The truth is there ain't much to say Today's the same as any day And nothing really scares me more than that Time and time again I see The walls are closing in on me Before my eyes my life begins to flash Sad memories I can't erase I know that I would leave this place If only I could gather up the cash While everyone with better sense has already left town And those that still remain about wonder why I'm around But where do we go from here? Do we leave it all behind? Do we walk away blind? Or will we ever find a light at the end of this street I wish I was like my brother Jim It doesn't seem to bother him He doesn't seem to mind the old routine He's always had it figured out Exactly what this town's about This unforgiving narrow-minded scene My mama told me long ago There's only two ways don't you know The second not so pleasant as the first You either find the river, dive right in Cleanse your soul, lose your sin Or walk away alone and die of thirst My old man ran from another land and tried to make a new start
But he worked his whole damn life away and died of a broken heart So where do we go from here? Do we leave it all behind? Do we walk away blind? And will we ever find a light at the end of this street Lately I've been having dreams Just like western movie scenes Hanging day, gallows overhead But I wake up in the nick of time Lying here to find that I'm Frozen to the sheets upon my bed They'll tell you opportunity Is simply nothing more to be In the right place at the right time But I've never been too lucky still I make it to the top of the hill And see there's twenty more ahead to climb So for every wounded mother's son left standing in the lurch And for every other wasted one who's given up the search Who spoke their minds stood their ground and was gracious in defeat Who is relegated now live and die out on this street Where do we go from here? Do we leave it all behind? Do we walk away blind? Or will we ever find a light at the end of this street... (4X) It's a long, long road away from here And where it ends is never clear A long, long time to cover ground But never, never, never turn around