[Verse 1]
(Sparse — foot stomps and handclaps only, lots of room to breathe)
Put the past in a book! [ BOOM - clap ]
[gasp]
Put the ink on the page! [ BOOM - clap ]
Turned a whole lot of hurt into wisdom and age.
Drove the Cadillac down! [ BOOM - clap ]
[gasp]
Through the bending oaks! [ BOOM - clap ]
Used to brace for the wind, just waiting to fall,
Now I’m shedding the leaves and letting go of it all!
[Chorus]
(The choppy march stops. The rhythm swings wide open into a driving stadium rock beat — full band, ringing guitars, B3 organ, gospel-style backing vocals.)
There’ll be a day that doesn’t make the turn by tomorrow,
When the road just stops and you run out of line!
But the sun’s coming up and the engine is running,
[inhale]
And I’m taking my time ‘cause it’s still all mine!
[Verse 2]
(Drop back down — sparse, just stomps and claps again)
Got a heavy silver watch! [ BOOM - clap ]
*gasp*
With a steady sweep! [ BOOM - clap ]
Got a whole lot of love and some company to keep.
Used to hammer the glass! [ BOOM - clap ]
[gasp]
Used to fight with the past![ BOOM - clap ]
Now I’m letting ‘em tick, and I’m letting ’em pass!
[Chorus]
(Wide open again, full band)
There’ll be a day that doesn’t make the turn by tomorrow,
When the road just stops and you run out of line!
But the sun’s coming up and the engine is running,
[inhale]
And I’m taking my time ‘cause it’s still all mine!
[Bridge]
Hear the quiet in the room! [ BOOM - clap ]
Make the ordinary loud! [ BOOM - clap ]
Watch my boy hold the line, making everybody proud!
I sat down with the ending and we made a deal…
(Music stops dead. Do not sing. Count: 1… 2…)
deep breath
…Now I’m taking the wheel.
[Guitar Solo]
[Chorus]
(Biggest moment of the song — fullest band, full gospel choir on the backing vocals)
There’ll be a day that doesn’t make the turn by tomorrow,
When the road just stops and you run out of line!
But the sun’s coming up and the engine is running,
[inhale]
And I’m taking my time ‘cause it’s still all mine!
[Outro]
(Back to the marching beat. Keep stacking layers each line — but ride the whole thing into a long, gradual fade-out, dissolving completely to silence.)
Yeah, I’m taking my time! [ BOOM - clap ]
Pour the coffee slow! [ BOOM - clap ]
Change the song on the dial![ BOOM - clap ]
Let the engine hum! [ BOOM - clap ]
Staying the whole waaay dooown… to the end.
(Long, slow fade to silence — let the last words trail off and hang.)
