# Track 2 – *First Step Gone* **Theme:** Leaving home, the road calling, fear and freedom **Tempo:** Bright, driving, nervous energy — acoustic guitar/banjo/mandolin driving forward ### [Verse 1] Boots on the gravel, dawn on the hill The house behind me, but I hear it still Every old window, every locked door Every word that told me what a girl was for The morning is cold and the road is wide I've got no map and nowhere to hide My heart beats hard like a runaway drum For the first time in my life, I'm going somewhere I choose to run Every step I take is a brand-new sin But there's a whole wide world I'm stepping in No master above me, no vow to bow Nobody owns me anymore now ### [Pre-Chorus] And I'm scared… God knows I'm scared… But fear feels different When the door is yours to close ### [Chorus] First step gone and the road unwinds Leaving all of their rules behind Cold wind bites but it feels like home For the first time ever, I'm walking alone First step gone and the miles grow long I don't know the words but I'm learning the song I've got nothing but the clothes I wore And a heart that won't be frightened anymore First step gone… First step gone… And the road keeps calling me on ### [Verse 2] By noon I was tired, by dusk I was cold Counting my pennies, counting my bold Then a wagon came rattling down the lane A boy with a grin and a horse in the rain He pulled up beside me and called, “Where you bound?” I said, “Anywhere there's no one owns the ground” He laughed and said, “Well, that's a road I know Climb on up, girl, we've a long way to go” He didn't ask questions, he didn't ask why Didn't tell me to lower my eyes Just tossed me a blanket and handed me bread Said, “There's room by the fire if you've nowhere to bed” ### [Chorus] First step gone and the road unwinds Leaving all of their rules behind Cold wind bites but it feels like home For the first time ever, I'm walking alone First step gone and the miles grow long I don't know the words but I'm learning the song I've got nothing but the clothes I wore And a heart that won't be frightened anymore First step gone… First step gone… And the road keeps calling me on ### [Verse 3] We slept in the hay while the night rolled black The stars burned bright and I never looked back He told me of places where the wild ones roam Of camps by the river and wagons called home He said, “There's folk out there who've lived like this With a song in their throat and a world to miss They'll share what they've got, they'll give you a name But nobody asks you to live life the same” I watched the firelight dance on his face And something inside me fell into place I wasn't a prisoner, I wasn't a stray I was just a woman who'd chosen her way ### [Bridge – Building] Maybe the road will break me Maybe I'll lose my way Maybe I'll wake tomorrow And wish I'd stayed But I'd rather be lost beneath an open sky Than safe in a house where a piece of me died So let the rain come down Let the hard miles begin I've spent my whole life afraid Now I'm learning how to live ### [Final Chorus – Bigger] First step gone and the road unwinds Leaving all of their rules behind Cold wind blows and the wheels roll on And every mile says I was right to be gone First step gone and the miles grow long I'm finding my feet, I'm finding my song I've got nothing but the stars above And a road beneath me that's wide enough First step gone… First step gone… The old life fades behind First step gone… First step gone… And the whole world opens wide ### [Outro – Driving Instrumental] Miles to go… Miles to roam… The road is calling… And I'm finally home.
