I was only 18
When I first left home
With no kind of plan
And nowhere to go

I made my way
Down the interstate
My Ford got stolen
So I was driving a Chevrolet

I lost a wheel
About 12am
Hadn't made it very far
Just south of Memphis

When along came a sheriff
Down Old 61
He looked at me and said
"Now listen son,"

"There's a long, tired road ahead
Take care of yourself, lest you wind up dead
Better yet, why don't you just go home
Be with your family, instead of out here on the road."

I said I wish I could
But ain't nothing there
Daddy chose the bottle
And he never really cared

So I'm making my way
Back up north
Don't know how I'll make it
But it can't be any worse

We fixed the wheel
And I was on my way
Things were uneventful
Until the break of day

When the starter died
In Illinois
The man who fixed it said
"Now listen boy,"

"There's a long, tired road ahead
Take care of yourself, lest you wind up dead
Better yet, why don't you just go home
Be with your family, instead of out here on the road."

I wish I could
Life doesn't happen
Like you think it should

I wish I could
Life doesn't happen
Like you think it should