[Verse 1] Morning light along the gravel road Watching the river carry down the load Copper kettle humming on the flame Whistle blowing loud without a name Boot tracks drying on the porch plank Wild grass growing on the cut bank [Pre-Chorus] (Smooth, rich low chest voice, locked right to the beat) One silver coin in the hollow wall Listen to the autumn pine cones fall [Chorus] (Full band bloom, resonant low alto melody, warm double-tracked lift) Roll the window down, let the cool air run Chasing down the shadow of the morning sun Count the telephone poles in a long gray row There’s a dozen different places left for me to go Turn the key in the ignition, pull out on the road Leaving behind every heavy load [Verse 2] Row of cedar trees against the fence Finding where the open field begins Hands resting easy on the steering wheel Cool morning dew on the painted steel Dry pine needles on the yellow hood Heading straight away from the neighborhood [Pre-Chorus] (Intimate, melodic, warm natural phrasing) One silver coin and a pocket knife Making a little room in a brand new life [Chorus] (Expansive jangle-rock surge, rich low vocal hooks) Roll the window down, let the cool air run Chasing down the shadow of the morning sun Count the telephone poles in a long gray row There’s a dozen different places left for me to go Turn the key in the ignition, pull out on the road Leaving behind every heavy load [Bridge] (Half-time driving rhythm, melodic bass lead, flowing vocal phrasing) Clear sky over the ridge line. No hurry, let the clock run out. I can hear the tires on the line. Everything is turning out fine. Watch the fog lift up off the ground. [Instrumental Break / Ringing 12-String Rickenbacker Jangle Solo] [Chorus] (Dynamic peak, full low harmonies, bright driving momentum) Roll the window down, let the cool air run Chasing down the shadow of the morning sun Count the telephone poles in a long gray row There’s a dozen different places left for me to go Turn the key in the ignition, pull out on the road Leaving behind every heavy load [Outro] (Warm, clean contralto fading alongside chiming electric guitars) Cool morning air… Open gray road… Drop the heavy load. (Ringing open chord sustain to a clean drum finish)
