[Intro: Slow harmonica-tinged guitar figure, audience settles into quiet anticipation] - Chord Progression: D - A - Bm - G [Verse 1: Weathered male vocal, patient phrasing, blues-inflected] D A I've worn the soles down thin on roads I can't recall Bm G Every town looks like the last one, every wall's the same wall D A I stopped asking where I'm headed, stopped asking why at all Bm G Just keep my eyes down on the gravel and I don't fall [Verse 2: Vocal deepens, guitar adds subtle slide accents] D A There's a woman back in some kitchen keeping supper warm Bm G She don't know if I'm the shelter or I'm the storm D A I sent her one letter and I never sent another Bm G Told myself the silence was a kindness, like a brother [Verse 3: Vocal grows rougher, more urgent, soulful female guest vocal answers each line] D A One more mile, one more town, one more reason not to stop Bm G One more bottle I keep swearing is the one before I drop D A One more mile, and maybe then the weight gets light enough Bm G One more mile before I finally call somebody's bluff [Bridge: Instrumentation strips to a single guitar and voice, confessional and unguarded] Em A I know this road don't lead to anywhere but gone Em A But standing still was always harder than moving on D Bm Maybe grace ain't a place you arrive at clean D A Maybe it's just walking through the parts you can't redeem [Final Chorus (Grand): Full band and guest vocal rise together, warm and unhurried but full-hearted] D A Bm G One more mile, one more mile, carry me on D A Bm G One more mile before this borrowed strength is gone Em A D And if I make it home before the story ends Bm G D I'll thank the road, and I'll thank the friends [Outro: Guitar and harmonica trade a slow farewell phrase, fading under audience applause] - Chord Progression: D - G - D [End]
