Long Way Back To Denver

You were barefoot on the hood

Of that beat-up Chevrolet

Burnt coffee in a paper cup

Sayin’

“We should run today”

You traced maps on my forearm

Like you knew the way by heart

Said

“There’s a line out past Nebraska

Where the sky just falls apart”

And it’s a long way back to Denver

From the things we thought we’d be

All those mile-marked promises

Scattered out behind me

I still see your hair in the crosswind

Hear you laugh

“We’ll never surrender”

I got an old song stuck on replay

And a long way back to Denver

We got snowed in near Laramie

In a motel

Faded blue

You were dancing ‘round the space heater

Singin’ off-key to the news

You said

“If this storm keeps on

We can blame it for our lives”

But the clouds broke in the morning

And you broke it with your eyes

Now it’s a long way back to Denver

From the lies we let sound true

All those gas station ultimatums

I threw like they’d bounce off you

I still taste cheap gin and thunder

Hear you slam that door in December

I got a full tank and half a heart

And a long way back to Denver

[Guitar steps forward

Drums lean in]

Somewhere past the county line

I turned the mirror toward the floor

Couldn’t stand that empty shoulder

You’re not riding here no more (no more)

If I cross that state sign

Will you still be on that porch?

Or am I just chasing ghosts

Down a burned-out stretch of north?

‘Cause it’s a long way back to Denver

From a kid I can’t defend

All those half-grown

Half-meant “sorry”s

Never made it to the end

If you’re out there on the west side

Watching storms roll soft and tender

Leave a porch light on the hillside

I’m a long way back to Denver (hey)

I’m a long

Long way back to Denver