The Man in the Rearview

[Intro] I saw him in the rearview mirror this morning And for a second I thought he was somebody I knew [Verse 1] There’s a photograph on the dresser Of a young man I used to be He’s got a grin like the world can’t hurt him And a lifetime he can’t see He doesn’t know about the empty rooms Or the names he’ll learn to miss He doesn’t know how fast forever goes Or how much a moment is [Pre-Chorus] And I swear I can still hear him laughing Like he’s riding shotgun with me But every mile down this old highway He’s getting harder to see [Chorus] There’s a man in the rearview Getting smaller every day He waves like he remembers me Then slowly fades away I keep driving toward tomorrow While yesterday disappears There’s a man in the rearview And I’ve been chasing him for years [Verse 2] My hands don’t work like they used to My eyes need a little more light I can’t stay up till morning anymore But I still dream all night I’ve got scars I don’t remember getting And stories I almost forgot Funny how you spend your whole life Trying to get somewhere you’re not [Pre-Chorus] And sometimes when the house gets quiet I hear that young man call He says, “You better hurry, brother We’re not gonna live forever after all” [Chorus] There’s a man in the rearview Getting smaller every day He waves like he remembers me Then slowly fades away I keep driving toward tomorrow While yesterday disappears There’s a man in the rearview And I’ve been chasing him for years [Verse 3] I’ve buried friends beside the churchyard I’ve watched my children grow I’ve stood beside the ones I love And wondered where the years all go I’ve had my share of broken dreams And a few that came true And if I had it all to do again I’d probably still choose you [Bridge] So don’t tell me I’m losing something Just because I’m losing time Every wrinkle has a story Every gray hair marks a mile And if someday you look beside me And there’s an empty driver’s seat Don’t be sad for the man who left He finally caught up with me [Final Chorus] There’s a man in the rearview Getting smaller every day But I don’t have to chase him now I think he’s on his way I’ve been driving toward tomorrow I’ve been running from the years Now there’s a man in the rearview And somehow he’s still here [Outro] Yeah, somehow he’s still here In every road I’ve traveled Every laugh and every tear The man in the rearview Was me all along