John Mellencamp/George M. Green)



On a Greyhound thirty miles beyond Jamestown

He saw the sun set on the Tennesseee line

He looked at the young man who was riding beside him

He said I'm old, kind of worn out inside

I worked my whole life in the steel mills of Gary

And my father before me I helped build this land

Now I'm seventy-seven and with God as my witness

I earned every dollar that passed through my hands



My family and freinds are the best things I've known

Through the eye of the needle I'll carry them home



CHORUS

Days turn to minutes

And minutes to memories

Life sweeps away the dreams

That we have planned

You are young and you are the future

So suck it up and tough it out

And be the best you can



The rain hit the old dog in the twilight's last gleaming

He said son it sounds like rattling old bones

This highway is long but I know some that are longer

By sunup tomorrow I guess I'll be home

Through the hills of Kentucky 'cross the Ohio River

The old man kept talking 'bout his life and his times

He fell asleep with his head against the window

He said an honest man's pillow is his peace of mind



This world offers riches and riches will grow wings

I don't take stock in those uncertain things



CHORUS



The old man had a vision but it was hard for me to follow

I do things my way and I pay a high price

When I think back on the old man and the bus ride

Now that I'm older I can see he was right



Another hot one out on Highway Eleven

This is my life, it's what I've chosen to do

There are no free rides, no one said it'd be easy

The old man told me this, my son, I'm telling it to you



CHORUS

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