[Verse 1] I came in with the feed dust, split skin on my hands You looked me over like a bill that never stands Said I was useless when the kitchen door was shut Then told your friends I was the one who gave you rough [Pre-Chorus] I kept the porch light burning, kept believing what you said You’d change by spring, you’d change by fall—it all stayed in my head [Chorus] So I pulled those bootstraps tight, took my name back from your mouth Left the key beside the coffee tin and drove the long way out You can tell them I’m the villain, make your story sound so clean But I know what I survived, and I know what I deserve I stayed too long for who you might have been Now I’m gone for who I am [Verse 2] Every hour I worked was still another thing I owed You’d cut me down in private, then play hurt when people showed Years of swallowing my words till they sat heavy in my chest You promised me a different heart; the promise failed the test [Pre-Chorus] I mistook your maybe for a reason to remain But hope can turn to habit when it’s only fed by pain [Chorus] So I pulled those bootstraps tight, took my name back from your mouth Left the key beside the coffee tin and drove the long way out You can tell them I’m the villain, make your story sound so clean But I know what I survived, and I know what I deserve I stayed too long for who you might have been Now I’m gone for who I am [Bridge] No grand speech, no slammed door, no last bargain to be made Just a man who finally saw the price of every day he stayed I don’t need you to confess it, don’t need the town to choose I’ve got miles beneath these tires and nothing left to lose [Final Chorus] Yeah, I pulled those bootstraps tight, took my name back from your mouth Left the key beside the coffee tin and drove the long way out You can tell them I’m the villain, I won’t chase you down to plead I know what I survived, and I know what I deserve I stayed too long for who you might have been Now I’m gone for who I am [Outro] That old two-lane runs straight west And I’m finally headed home
