County number 9

“County number 9”

(Single guitar. Minor key. Almost spoken.)

It was half past midnight

No lines on the road

Just two dim headlights

And a heavy load

Radio whisperin’ static

About a storm rollin’ in

I was thinkin’ ’bout nothin’

When the night caved in

(long pause — soft bass enters)

Felt it more than I saw it

That thud in the steel

Steerin’ wheel jumped hard

Like it knew what was real

I stopped for a second

Engine idled low

Rearview full of darkness

And nowhere to go

Oh, that open blacktop

Don’t forget your name

It keeps every secret

It keeps every shame

You can drive forever

But you won’t outrun

What you left in the ditch

On County number 9

(instrumental — one lonely electric note)

Next mornin’ there were flowers

Tied to a wooden cross

Pink ribbon in the wind

Sayin’ Heaven’s gain is our loss

Sheriff said it was a young girl

Walkin’ home alone

Said they’re lookin’ for a pickup

With rust along the chrome

(brush snare enters softly)

I washed that bumper clean

In the light of dawn

Scrubbed till my hands went raw

But the stain held on

Every mile marker

Looks like her face

Every set of headlights

Feels like grace

Oh, that open blacktop

It hums beneath my tires

Like a choir of broken angels

Singin’ through the wires

You can bury truth in gravel

You can swear you didn’t see

But the road keeps callin’

And it don’t forgive men like me

(final line — almost whisper)

I still hear that sound

On County number 9.