(Verse 1) St. Louis came at sundown Neon shining through the rain Some folks left, some folks boarded The Greyhound filled again I was fourteen and headed west Feeling older than I was When a kid about my age sat down In the back of the bus He dropped a worn-out duffel Took the seat beside my own Asked me where I was headed I said, "Phoenix." He said, "Home." (Chorus) Back of the bus Watching America roll by Smoke drifting through the darkness Under endless summer skies One was headed toward adventure One was headed home Funny how the longest roads Can make strangers feel less alone Back of the bus (Verse 2) He talked about Arizona Like I talked about the lake Like home was something living Not something you explain He spoke about the desert The mountains and the heat While I tried to picture cactus Instead of maple trees I told him about Ohio Snowstorms and county roads He laughed and said "Man, Arizona ain't nothing like home." (Chorus) Back of the bus Watching America roll by Smoke drifting through the darkness Under endless summer skies One was headed toward adventure One was headed home Funny how the longest roads Can make strangers feel less alone Back of the bus (Bridge) Bus stations after midnight Coffee cups and vending machines Truckers, dreamers, drifters And places neither one had seen The wheels kept turning south and west The miles just slipped away Two kids from different worlds Sharing stories on the way (Verse 3) When Arizona finally came He grabbed his bag and stood Sunlight pouring through the glass Like he'd always known it would He smiled and slapped my shoulder Said, "Take care, Ohio." Then disappeared into the crowd And that was all (Final Chorus) Back of the bus Watching America roll by Smoke drifting through the darkness Under endless summer skies One was headed toward adventure One was headed home Funny how the longest roads Can make strangers feel less alone Back of the bus (Outro) Never saw him anymore But every time I think of Arizona I think of him first I wonder if he thinks about me
