[VERSE] I step onto this ground, it’s grey and hard, Feels like cold mud, but ain’t wet, ain’t yard. I ask a kid on a tiny flying plank, “This mud’s frozen, why’s it stiff like dank?” He laughs, shakes his head: “You jokin’, old timer? That’s the solid earth out here, no grime layer.” He glides off quick, board floating in air, “Grandpa,” he calls like I’m from elsewhere. [CHORUS] I’m lost in this place no clue what I stand on, Every sight’s sorcery, dawn to the dawn. From hoof to tire, from wood to machine, In this future world, ain’t nothing serene. [VERSE 2] I spy a carriage crawl through hut box with voice in wall, Folk shout in metal mouths, no humans at all. I slide near, cape flapping: “Young one, who’s stuck inside? Are they trapped? In torment? Please, don’t let them die!” He snorts, smirks: “Nah grandpa, it’s the order-voice box, Takes your whispers, sends them in no one locked in its locks.” But I stride forward, pistol drawn, heart aflame, “Release him! Show him!” I shout while the metal pipe’s to blame. The box crackles, repeats: “Welcome to the drive-thing, may I take your order?” I shriek: “Don’t be scared, I’ll save you, come forward!” I fire a shot BANG! at the voice-box’s screen, Wrecked! Sparks! Glass splinters on the frozen grey green. Cars screech! Teens shout: “Grandpa’s lost his mind!” He yells “Join me, save the man!” but they drop behind. I pound that box, shards scatter like I’m freeing the damned, Before a worker pops out: “Dude... it’s AI, man.” I stand amid wreckage, holster smoking, proud Rescued an imaginary man under neon cloud. [CHORUS] From hoof to screech, from mud to this place, Every living box’s a life-saving case. In this dazzling maze of ghosts and steel, Turpin’s rogue heart’s still real. [VERSE 3] I descend in this pit beneath the ground no soil, no cave, Only hollow steel and ghostly echoes, I stumble, I cave. A doors open roar, a beast slides in no horse, no hoof, Just steel snake rattling lights flicker truth aloof. I ask the youth in neon gear: “Is this some cursed stable?” He laughs “Nah, it’s the tube, city’s belly, cable!” I grip my pistol: “You can’t ride a snake, no leather, no hide?” He shrugs: “It’s metal, not flesh, just hop, ride!” I leap aboard, cape swirling my eyes wide as moons, The beast rockets, no rein, no reins just humming tunes. I shout: “Steady this devil, I won’t be your prey!” They grin: “Chill grandpa, it's transit, get used to today.” [CHORUS] From drive-thru bots to underground steel, Every step’s a trap it’s unreal. Turpin’s rogue soul stays blazing bright, In this neon world he’ll own the night. [VERSE 4] Then I spy a small broom rat gliding on no feet, It sweeps the floor by itself no dog, no beast. I ask a maid: “Why does this stray rat clean by its own will?” She laughs: “It’s a robo rat grandpa, vacuum skill.” Robo rat hums no whiskers, no fur just wheel. I kick at it: “Begone demon! Reveal your deal!” It zips, it darts, under my cloak I chase, I shout: "this beast won’t choke!" Folks laugh, pull phones: “Watch the old outlaw fight!” I stumble, face planted rat’s clean in spite. I glare, mumble curses: “In my day, rats you’d club, not coddle with plugs!” I curse at its scrub. [BRIDGE] Richard Turpin was butcher, poacher, gang marauder, no saint. He joined the Gregory Gang in 1730s Essex, brutal and faint Partnered with Tom King till King fell in ’37. He went North, stole horses, shot a gamecock, was found out via letter in ’38, and hanged in York in ’39 [FINAL CHORUS] So here I trudge, through gears, through hiss and hum, Still the outlaw soul I may be far from home. Yet in neon nights, in false hearth’s gleam, I'll fight each magic box live my highway dream
