[Intro] [Verse 1] I-80 West, six in the morning The city in the rearview getting small I told myself I wouldn't look I looked anyway I always look The flat land opens up like a chest And I drive into it like I know where I'm going Like this isn't the twelfth time I've left Like it gets easier Like I'm not already planning When I'm coming back [Pre-Chorus] Every time I leave I tell myself it's right Every time I leave I spend a hundred miles Not believing it [Chorus] I-80 WEST AND THE MILES DON'T LIE EVERY EXIT PASSING IS A THING I LEFT BEHIND I LEAVE BECAUSE I HAVE TO I LEAVE BECAUSE I MUST I LEAVE BECAUSE IF I STAY I TURN BACK INTO RUST I-80 WEST AND THE SKY GOES FLAT I KEEP MY EYES ON THE ROAD I DON'T LOOK BACK I DON'T LOOK BACK I DON'T LOOK BACK [Verse 2] My father's hands are slower now I noticed when I hugged him at the door There's a version of me that stays That chooses the county road over I-80 That plants something and watches it grow I drive past her every time I leave The radio plays something I knew in high school I turn it off I know what that song does to me I know exactly what that song does to me I am not doing that right now I am not doing that right now [Pre-Chorus] Every time I leave I tell myself it's right Every time I leave I spend a hundred miles Wondering if I'm wrong [Chorus] I-80 WEST AND THE MILES DON'T LIE EVERY EXIT PASSING IS A THING I LEFT BEHIND I LEAVE BECAUSE I HAVE TO I LEAVE BECAUSE I MUST I LEAVE BECAUSE IF I STAY I TURN BACK INTO RUST I-80 WEST AND THE SKY GOES FLAT I KEEP MY EYES ON THE ROAD I DON'T LOOK BACK I DON'T LOOK BACK [Breakdown] I LEFT — AGAIN I LEFT — AGAIN I ALWAYS — LEAVE I ALWAYS — LEAVE AND IT NEVER — GETS CLEAN AND IT NEVER — GETS CLEAN [Verse 3] The flat land is behind me now The terrain is changing, hills appearing And I feel the Ohio leaving my chest Degree by degree Mile by mile I'll be back I'm always back The root goes all the way down And roots don't break They just go underground Until you're somewhere else And you feel them pulling [Outro] I-80 West... The miles don't lie... I'll be back...
