In ’59

I was born in a shotgun shack
That leaned against a railroad track
I could hear the whistle blow
All the way to Del Rio

I was turning seventeen
When I packed up my hopes and dreams
Loaded my old beat up car
Turned the key and burned the tar

I burned that highway down in '59
Yes I burned that two-lane highway down in 1959
I never did look back I did not see that railroad track
But I burned that highway down in '59

Winter came in sixty-five
I fought the cold to stay alive
And when I tried to light a fire
I was burned by my desire

There I was at twenty-four
Faded dreams and nothin' more
So I hit the road again
Oh that road its back my friends

I burned that highway down in '69
Yes I burned that four-lane highway down in 1969
I never do look back
I don't see that railroad track
Burned that highway down in '69

The seventies were kind to me
I was young and I was free
Had it all and then some more
I could walk through running doors

Then a star at eighty-three
Caught me too far out to sea
I hit a reef and I ran aground
On the streets of Guitar Town

I burned that highway down in '89
Yes I burned that four-lane highway down in 1989
And I never did look back
I could not see those railroad tracks
Burned that highway down in '89

I can hear my momma pray
Prayin' for a better day
I can hear my Daddy say
Honey I will find a way

He worked his fingers to the bone
To make that shotgun shack a home
He kept his sadness deep inside
He had that dream the day he died

I burned that highway down in '59
Burned that dirt road highway down in 1959
I never will look back when I don't see that railroad track
I burned that highway down in '59

So now keep my soul to the Hotel California
I get lost to the Mason Dixon Line
I have run there with a lady East of Eden
And I burned that highway down in '89
Yes I burned that highway down in '89

I have run there with a lady East of Eden
I burned that highway down in '89
Yes I burned that highway down in '89