Five Miles Past Curfew

[Intro — fast acoustic guitar, fiddle] Daddy said, Be home by ten. I said, Absolutely. Which apparently means different things To him and sixteen-year-old me. [Verse 1] Ten-oh-five, I'm down in Bristol, Ten-oh-nine, I'm makin' time, Ten-eleven, Billy's callin'— So naturally, I hit decline. I ain't lost, I know these backroads. I can name 'em every one. And five miles ain't really distance When yer horse knows how to run. [Pre-Chorus] There's a porch light in the distance. There's a silhouette I know. Two more standin' there behind him— Ah, hell. The welcoming committee's home. [Chorus] I'm five miles past curfew, But I'm five miles headed home! Got the moonlight on me shoulders, And I ain't out here alone. Got four good hooves beneath me, Got stars to steer me through— If I'm five miles past curfew, Daddy, I'm just five miles closer to you! [spoken] That's mathematics. Ya can't argue with mathematics. [Verse 2] Billy says, Yer dead, Chloe. Alton says, I'll dig the grave. I say, Lovely seeing both of ya. Could we focus on how well I behaved? Didn't drink. Didn't smoke. Didn't rob a bank or start a fight. I just took the longer way home 'Cause Vermont looked pretty tonight. And there was this boy— [music stops] There was no boy. Why would ya even ask that? [fiddle resumes] [Chorus] I'm five miles past curfew, But I'm five miles headed home! And surely direction matters When determining where I've gone. I'm a responsible young woman! [backing vocals] Yer sixteen! [Chloe] Close enough! If I'm five miles past curfew, child, Then five more miles fixes stuff! [Verse 3] Now the leaves are flyin' behind me, Cold wind's tanglin' up me hair, And I'm rehearsin' explanations Like me life depends on prayer. Lost track of time. Too obvious. Horse got tired. He'll know that's lies. Stopped to help an injured squirrel. [pause] That's actually quite good. [Pre-Chorus] Then I see Mama at the doorway, Tryin' hard to hide a grin. Daddy's got his arms folded. Billy's taking bets again. Alton points down at his watch. I give 'em all me sweetest smile— [Chloe] Good evening, gentlemen. Beautiful night for five extra miles. [Bridge — piano and handclaps] Someday I'll have my own place. Someday nobody'll wait. Someday I can stay out all night And come home whenever I please. [beat] And someday... Maybe I'll miss this. The porch light. Mama's face. Three ridiculous men pretending They weren't worried in the first place. [quickly] But I'm not tellin' them that. [Final Chorus — full band] I'm five miles past curfew! Five miles headed home! Got autumn in me jacket And the whole night left to roam! But there's cocoa in the kitchen, And me bed is callin' too— So I'm five miles past curfew, Daddy, And comin' home to you! Yeah, I'm five miles past curfew! But consider this me plea: If ya wanted me home right at ten— [music drops] Ya probably shouldn't have raised me. [Outro — fiddle and guitar] Ten-twenty-three. Horse in the stable. Boots by the door. Daddy says, Grounded. I say, For how long? He says, We'll discuss it tomorrow. [Chloe, brightly] Brilliant. So I'm free tonight? [huge final chord]