Watching the clock

I had the kind of love men pray to find,

We built a whole damn life, one day at a time.

Then forever disappeared without a goodbye,

And half of who I was went with her that night.

I know what real love gives,

And I know what losing costs—

So let the whole town count the days,

I’ve already paid the loss.

Let ’em watch the clock—I’ll trust the compass,

Let ’em talk like they know what I’ve been through.

They weren’t there when the ol’ house went silent,

They never had to wake up without you.

I won’t waste what’s left of this life

Trying to make their judgement stop.

I know the road my heart is heading down—

So let ’em watch the clock.

I wasn’t looking when she walked into my life,

Hell, I was barely making it from dawn to dusk, I thought a Winnie Blue tasted bloody good,

’Til I kissed strawberry lips like I never thought I would.

Thought a bottle of whiskey looked right in my hand,

’Til her fingers found mine and I started to understand.

Love don’t ask permission, don’t wait for the right time—

And a heart don’t give a damn about somebody else’s timeline.

I thought a man stayed strong by standing on his own,

Kept his heart shut tight and his feelings unknown.

Then she walked in—hell, I never saw it start—

Turns out the toughest thing I’ve done,

Is hand her my heart.

She never tried to take your place,

She lets me speak your name.

She knows I’ll always love you,

And somehow loves me just the same.

Finding love again don’t mean the first love ends,

It don’t erase our story or the years we should’ve spent.

You’ll still be there beside me

As I’m raising up our boys,

In every hard decision,

In their laughter and their noise.

They can count the weeks,

They can shake their heads,

But they never held my whole world

While goodbye was being said.

They never faced the empty chair

Or lay awake till dawn,

So they don’t get to tell me

When my heart can carry on.

I thought being hard meant I needed no one,

Just smoke, whiskey and the setting sun.

But you taught me life was made to live

Before the chance is gone—

So I’ll carry you forever,

But I’m still moving on.

Let ’em watch the clock—I’ll trust the compass,

I don’t give a damn what they think I ought to do.

They never loved her like I loved her,

And they never had to lose her like I do.

I’ve already learned how quickly

Everything you love can stop.

So I’ll follow where this heart of mine is heading—

And let ’em watch the clock.

Yeah, I’ll follow love wherever it may lead,

And let ’em watch the clock.

The compass came before the clock—

Direction over speed.

I ain’t leaving her behind me,

I’m just going where love leads.

And if this little hand stays wrapped in mine,

Well, that’s good enough for me—

I’ll carry yesterday forever,

While I walk where tomorrow leads.