Passenger Seat

[Intro — acoustic guitar, piano, handclaps] Billy's got the keys again. Of course he bloody does. Apparently possessing twenty years Makes ya qualified because... [Verse 1] Daddy says I'm still too young. Mama says, Give it time. Alton says, I've seen ya steer a horse. I say, Horse turned out just fine. So I'm sittin' by the window, Billy's drivin' much too slow, Giving expert navigation To a man who knows the road. Turn here. I know. Speed up. No. Child, there's nobody around! He just reaches for the radio And turns me music down. [Chorus] I'm always in the passenger seat, Watchin' all the roads go by, Got me boots up on the dashboard— [Billy] Chloe. [Chloe] Fine. Got me boots down nice and proper While I contemplate me life. Everybody gets to choose the road Except the girl on the right. Someday I'll have keys of me own, And, child, the world's in trouble then! But till somebody lets me drive— Passenger seat again. [Verse 2] Alton drives like Daddy taught him: Hands at ten and two, Checks the mirror every seven seconds, Like the mirror's grading you. Billy thinks a speed-limit sign Is more a friendly thought. Mama sings along beside me Whether she knows the words or not. Daddy drives in total silence, Except to ask me where I've been. And somehow every conversation Ends with questions about him. [music stops] There is no him. [beat] And even if there was a him, That's none of— [Daddy] Chloe. [Chloe] Passenger seat. Right. [Chorus] I'm always in the passenger seat, Watchin' Vermont roll away, Past the farms and painted mountains, Past the signs for every place. Got a whole world past the windshield, Got a map across me knees, And three men who seem convinced The highway isn't safe with me. Someday I'll have keys of me own, And I'll go anywhere I please! Till then I'm stuck beside me brothers Arguin' over the heat. [Bridge — softer piano, acoustic guitar] But sometimes late on Sunday, When the sunset turns things gold, Daddy drives the mountain road We've probably driven since I was four. Mama's sleeping by the window. Billy's finally shut his mouth. Alton's humming with the radio As the road goes winding south. And I look across me family, Then out at everything I know... And the passenger seat ain't terrible When ya like where the car might go. [beat] Still want the keys. [Final Chorus — bright, full band] Yeah, I'm stuck in the passenger seat! But I can pick the songs we play! I can sing until me brothers Beg for silence all the way! I can roll the window open! Let October wreck me hair! Wave at everybody passing Like I'm bloody mayor somewhere! And someday I'll have keys of me own. I'll chase every road I see. But maybe there's worse places, child, Than havin' family next to me. So I'll take the passenger seat— For now. But Billy? Listen carefully. [music drops] The minute ya stop for coffee... Those keys belong to me. [Outro — fiddle and guitar] [Billy] You can't even drive stick. [Chloe] I understand the theory. [Billy] Absolutely not. [Chloe] Alton? [Alton] No. [Chloe] Mama? [Mama] Ask your father. [Chloe, screaming teenage angst] Shoot! I am never gonna be leavin' this seat.