[Intro] Spent all damn night Asking which road. Horse looked back like— Girl, just go. [Verse 1] Morning broke crooked Over Tennessee pine, I was waiting on a sign Like the sign owed me time. Left road looked lonely. Right road looked rough. So I sat there in the middle Till I'd had enough. I asked God. Asked the stars. Asked the smoke from the fire. Asked my heart, But that liar Just kept naming desire. Then my horse kicked dirt Like she already knew: You can spend your whole life choosing Or choose something and move. [Pre-Chorus] So— Hat down. Chin up. Boots in the stirrups. If the road wants an answer— Tell the road To catch up. [Chorus] I ain't gotta know! I ain't gotta know! Where this thing ends Before I let it go. Maybe you're trouble. Maybe you're home. Maybe I'm better When I ain't riding alone. I spent half my life Trying to know before I go— Hell with it. Open the gate. I ain't gotta know. [Verse 2 — Rap] I wanted guarantees, Receipts, Proof, Plans. Wanted fate notarized Before I showed my hand. Wanted love with an exit, A map with a key, Wanted everything certain So nothing could hurt me. That's cute. Look where certainty got me— Talking to fog While my own horse watched me. Got law to the east, Got smoke to the west, Got your name doing laps In the middle of my chest. Could be wrong. Been wrong. Probably won't be the last. But I ain't digging up tomorrow Just to bury the past. If it breaks, Then it breaks. If it stays, Let it stay. But I'm done making fear Sound like wisdom today. [Chorus] I ain't gotta know! I ain't gotta know! Where this thing ends Before I let it go. Maybe you're trouble. Maybe you're home. Maybe I'm better When I ain't riding alone. I spent half my life Trying to know before I go— Hell with it. Open the gate. I ain't gotta know. [Verse 3] There's a town up ahead. There's a light in your room. There's a bank we once robbed And a bar playing tunes. There's a chair by your table Where my coat used to hang. Funny— That little empty chair Hits harder than a gang. I don't need forever. Don't hand me that weight. I just know there's somewhere I'd rather be late. So if you hear hoofbeats Coming hard through the night— Don't ask if I'm certain. Just leave on the light. [Bridge] Maybe love ain't knowing. Maybe love ain't proof. Maybe love is telling fear, You don't get to choose. Maybe courage ain't a gunfight. Maybe brave ain't drawing steel. Maybe brave is showing up Before you know what's real. [Breakdown — Rap] No prophecy. No guarantee. No universe Signing shit for me. No perfect card. No master plan. Just dirt, Two boots, And a shaking hand. I can leave when I need to. I can stay if I choose. That's the thing about freedom— It ain't having nothing to lose. It's having something worth wanting And still being free. Damn. Took twenty-two robberies To explain that to me. [Banjo / Guitar Break] [Banjo attacks the opening riff over stomps and handclaps. The Les Paul answers with a filthy melodic blues phrase. Horse-gallop drums build until the entire band crashes back.] [Final Chorus] I AIN'T GOTTA KNOW! I AIN'T GOTTA KNOW! Where this thing ends Before I let it grow. Maybe you're trouble! Maybe you're home! Maybe we're better Not doing this alone! I spent half my life Trying to know before I go— Hell with it! OPEN THE GATE! I ain't gotta know! [Outro] Hoofbeats getting closer. One light Through the trees. I don't know what happens next. ... Finally. That's fine with me.
