[Verse 1] I was 18 driving without a license Driving 55 getting chased by the cops Hands on the wheel My old man in the seat beside me Trying not to flinch The road opened up like it was mine to take He said, Slow down, boy, every time I moved too quick His grip on the dash went white at the knuckles He said I was reckless, said I was wrong [Pre-Chorus] Heartbeat drumming, foot down hard No room to turn, no time to guard One more second, pushing past the edge And I don't know what breaks, or what's left to pledge [Chorus] I'm a backseat driver In my own damn life Take the long way Gonna get it right Headlights cut white I'm taking flight I'm a backseat driver I'm taking flight [Verse 2] Now I'm older, and I get it now He was scared, just trying to hold me down But I had to burn rubber, had to feel alive Had to learn the hard way what it takes to survive I still remember that night we almost went off the road I laughed too loud and let the whole thing go [Pre-Chorus] Now I know, now I know What he was trying to say But the line keeps moving And I can't hit the brake [Chorus] I'm a backseat driver In my own damn life Take the long way Gonna get it right Headlights cut white I'm taking flight I'm a backseat driver I'm taking flight [Verse 3] Every scar I carry tells the truth Every choice I made, I own it too The mess behind me, the road ahead's calling And I won't apologize, no, not at all I can hear that warning in the shaking glass I can feel the fear, and I drove right past [Bridge] Still, I carry what he tried to teach One hand on hope and one on the reach I won't forget what that night laid bare But I can steer my own way there [Chorus] I'm a backseat driver In my own damn life Take the long way Gonna get it right Headlights cut white I'm taking flight I'm a backseat driver I'm taking flight
