I was raised off of rural route 3 Out past where the blacktop ends We'd walk to church on Sunday morning And race barefoot back to Johnson's fence That's where I first saw Mary On that roadside pickin' blackberries That summer I turned the corner in my soul Down that red dirt road. It's where I drank my first beer It's where I found Jesus Where I wrecked my first car I tore it all to pieces I learned the path to heaven Is full of sinners and believers Learned that happiness on earth Ain't just for high achievers (I heard) I've come to know there's life at both ends Of that red dirt road. Her daddy didn't like me much In my shackled up GTO I'd sneak out in the middle of the night Throw rocks at her bedroom window We'd turn out the headlights And drive by the moonlight Talk about what the future might hold Down that red dirt road It's where I drank my first beer It's where I found Jesus Where I wrecked my first car I tore it all to pieces I learned the path to heaven Is full of sinners and believers Learned that happiness on earth Ain't just for high achievers (I heard) I've come to know there's life at both ends Of that red dirt road. I went out into the world And I came back in I lost Mary Oh, I got her back again And driving home tonight It feels like I found a long lost friend It's where I drank my first beer It's where I found Jesus Where I wrecked my first car I tore it all to pieces I learned the path to heaven Is full of sinners and believers Learned that happiness on earth Ain't just for high achievers (I heard) I've come to know there's life at both ends Of that red dirt road.