[Instrumental Intro — dirty Telecaster riff, heavy bass, stomping drums] [Verse 1] I used to need a sign from heaven Written big across the wall Something I could point a finger at If everything went wrong Used to ask a hundred questions Till the moment disappeared Then I'd call it being careful When the truth was I was scared Had a man tell me one evening "Girl, you gotta know for sure" I said, "Honey, if I knew for sure What would courage even be for?" [Pre-Chorus] I got my boots on the floor Got my eyes on the line Ain't asking tomorrow To explain itself tonight [Chorus] The sky ain't gotta clear For me to see the road I don't need a promise From a world I don't control Let the black clouds gather Let the wild wind blow I know what I'm risking I know what I know Oh, I can move With a little fear The sky ain't gotta clear [Instrumental — Telecaster answers the hook] [Verse 2] Had a good trade turn against me Had a bad one make me grin Funny how the money tells you Who you oughta think you've been One green candle made me brilliant One red candle made me small Till I caught myself believing I was either one at all Now I know where I'll be leaving Before I ever take my place Ain't no shame in being mistaken Ain't no prize for saving face [Pre-Chorus] I don't need to know the ending I just need to know my part Got a line drawn in the sand And a steady kind of heart [Chorus] The sky ain't gotta clear For me to see the road I don't need a promise From a world I don't control Let the black clouds gather Let the wild wind blow I know what I'm risking I know what I know Oh, I can move With a little fear The sky ain't gotta clear [Long Instrumental — sinister blues guitar, shifting bass, psychedelic harmonic turn] [Bridge — low and intimate] I knew a woman Waited twenty years For a day without a reason To be frightened Had her bags beside the doorway Had her coat behind the door Said she'd leave when she was certain She's still waiting Far as I know And I ain't judging Lord, I understand I just don't wanna spend forever With tomorrow in my hands [Instrumental Breakdown — bass and tremolo guitar] [Verse 3] There was a time I'd call it reckless Making peace with what I can't see Now I call it knowing the difference Between the weather And me Storm can roll across the valley Take the fences, shake the trees But it don't get to make the choices That belong to me [Final Chorus — full band, soaring guitar counterline] The sky ain't gotta clear For me to see the road I don't need a promise From a world I don't control Let the black clouds gather Let the wild wind blow I know what I'm risking I know what I know I can lose And still be here I can bend And still steer I can move With a little fear The sky ain't gotta clear [Extended Instrumental — explosive Telecaster solo, huge bass, drums evolving into a psychedelic final movement] [Outro — dry, intimate] Look at that Still raining ... Beautiful day to know where I'm going
