[STYLE: West Coast Blues, sophisticated swinging groove, relaxed California atmosphere, elegant electric blues with jazz influence] [INTRO: 16 bars, clean electric guitar riff, walking bass, brushed drums, piano comping, soft tenor sax fills] [VERSE 1] Highway One at sunset, ocean shining gold Highway One at sunset, ocean shining gold I've got a tank full of gasoline and stories left untold The Pacific keeps on rolling underneath the evening sky The Pacific keeps on rolling underneath the evening sky I don't know where I'm going, but I'm finally learning why [PRE-CHORUS: Piano and sax respond to vocal] I spent too many years Trying to find another road Now the ocean's telling me I can finally drop the load [CHORUS: Full West Coast swing] I'm riding Highway One With the sunset on my side I'm riding Highway One With the Pacific open wide Ain't looking in the mirror Ain't got nothing left to hide I'm riding Highway One And I'm taking back my life [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK 1: 16 bars, clean electric guitar solo with sophisticated jazz-blues phrasing, sax responses] [VERSE 2] I met a girl in Monterey with flowers in her hair I met a girl in Monterey with flowers in her hair She said, "You look like someone who's been running everywhere" I told her about the woman I had left behind I told her about the woman I had left behind She said, "Sometimes the ocean helps you change your mind" [PRE-CHORUS: Light horn pads] She didn't ask me questions She didn't need to know She just smiled toward the water And watched the evening glow [CHORUS: Full band] I'm riding Highway One With the sunset on my side I'm riding Highway One With the Pacific open wide Ain't looking in the mirror Ain't got nothing left to hide I'm riding Highway One And I'm taking back my life [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK 2: 24 bars, tenor sax solo, piano comping, walking bass, clean guitar fills] [VERSE 3] There's a little roadside diner where the truckers stop at night There's a little roadside diner where the truckers stop at night The coffee tastes like memories but somehow feels just right An old man at the counter said, "Son, you're looking free" An old man at the counter said, "Son, you're looking free" I said, "Maybe that's what this old road was meant to teach me" [BRIDGE: Arrangement drops to guitar, bass and vocal] You can't hold the ocean You can't stop the tide You can't keep tomorrow Locked up inside Sometimes you gotta leave To discover where you are Sometimes the longest road Can lead you back to your heart [CHORUS: Extended] I'm riding Highway One With the sunset on my side I'm riding Highway One With the Pacific open wide Ain't looking in the mirror Ain't got nothing left to hide I'm riding Highway One And I'm taking back my life I'm riding Highway One Where the mountains meet the sea I'm riding Highway One And the road is setting me free Every mile behind me Is another memory I'm riding Highway One And I'm becoming me [INSTRUMENTAL FINALE: 24 bars, guitar and saxophone trading melodic phrases, piano and walking bass maintaining sophisticated swing] [FINAL VOCAL AD LIBS] Highway One... Keep on rolling... Sunset on my side... I'm finally free... [OUTRO: 16 bars, clean guitar reprises main theme, saxophone softly echoes the final phrase] [ENDING: Smooth final guitar chord with soft saxophone note fading naturally]
