Hollow Bones-( The initial and long version )

[Intro: Pedal Steel + Acoustic Guitar + Wind 6s] [Verse 1 - MALE LEAD] I found your letter in the glovebox Dated back in '99 The ink was faded but the words still cut Like barbed wire through my mind Your daddy's house is boarded up The porch light don't burn no more And I keep driving past that road Like a sinner past a church door [BACKING FEMALE: oh Lord... oh Lord...] [Verse 2 - MALE LEAD] We were young and dumb and full of fire Made promises to the sky Said we'd leave this dusty town Or we'd die trying But you got married to a man with money And I got married to the night Now I drink to ghosts and empty rooms And the way you said goodbye [BACKING FEMALE: goodbye... goodbye...] [Pre-Chorus - MALE + FEMALE HARMONY] The river keeps running But it don't run clean And the moon keeps watching Over everything we've seen [Chorus - MALE LEAD + FULL HARMONY] These hollow bones of mine Still ache for you Every mile of highway Leads back to you I built a life on whiskey And memories and rust But Southern Gothic hearts Don't know how to trust These hollow bones Still ache for you [CHOIR: ache... ache for you...] [Verse 3 - MALE LEAD] The preacher says forgiveness Is the only way to heal But how do you forgive a future That you both said was real? Your name's carved in the oak tree Down by the railroad track I go there when the summer gets too heavy And I talk to your shadow [BACKING FEMALE: shadow... shadow...] [Pre-Chorus - MALE + FEMALE HARMONY] The crickets keep singing But they don't sing true And the night keeps stretching Between me and you [Chorus - MALE LEAD + FULL HARMONY + PEDAL STEEL] These hollow bones of mine Still ache for you Every mile of highway Leads back to you I built a life on whiskey And memories and rust But Southern Gothic hearts Don't know how to trust These hollow bones Still ache for you [CHOIR: ache... ache for you...] [Bridge - SPOKEN MALE OVER ORGAN] [SPOKEN MALE]: "They say time heals everything" "Must be lying" "Cause it's been twenty-three years" "And I still taste your name" "Like copper on my tongue" [VIOLIN RISE + DRUM BUILD] [Final Chorus - BIG FINISH - MALE + FEMALE + CHOIR] These hollow bones of mine Still ache for you Every mile of highway Leads back to you I built a life on whiskey And memories and rust But Southern Gothic hearts Don't know how to trust These hollow bones Still ache... still ache... For you [CHOIR: for you... for you...] [PEDAL STEEL CRY + FADE] [Outro: Acoustic + Wind] [WHISPER MALE]: "hollow bones..."