The Highway

I drove in on the four lane where the two lane used to be
The highway hummed a near forgotten tune from 1963
The year I turned 18 and set my sights and heard the highway call
Now the highway's come full circle to a place I scarce recall

There's a girl I still remember whose name I can't recall
I gave her what I had, but then she tried to take it all
I stayed long enough to love her and then left her on the run
Like a flower left to wither in that deep East Texas sun

There's a place out on the highway where I go to spend my time
Where the bartenders all know me and the players are friends of mine
And we light up on the brakes and talk of things that we all know
But I've heard it all before, and I'll hear it all again
And I've heard it said, "The highway never ends"

So, what about old handsome Johnny and the class of '64?
Did the women all make promises when they shipped him off to war?
Did his mama get the medal and did his country ever win?
Well, let's drink a round to Johnny, 'cause he died for all our sins

They're still down there in the factories, you can see 'em in the mills
They've sweated there for years, Lord, I guess they always will
And you know they won't be leaving, and I can't watch 'em die that way
So, in my rearview mirror, I'll just watch them slip away

There's a place out on the highway where I go to spend my time
Where the bartenders all know me and the players are friends of mine
And we light up on the brakes and talk of things that we all know
But I've heard it all before, and I'll hear it all again
And I've heard it said, "The highway never ends"

The highway never ends

The highway never ends