On a Greyhound thirty miles beyond Jamestown
He saw the sun set on the Tennessee line
Looked at the young man who was riding beside him
He said I'm old, kind of worn out inside I worked my whole life in the steel mills near Gary
My father before me, I helped build this land
Now seventy-seven and with God as my witness
I earned every dollar that passed through my hands My family and friends are the best things I've known
Through the eye of the needle I'll carry them home Rain hit the old dog in the twilight's last gleaming
He said, "Son it sounds like rattling old bones"
This highway is long but I know some that are longer
By sun up tomorrow I guess I'll be home The hills of Kentucky cross the Ohio river
The old man kept talking 'bout his life and his times
He fell asleep with his head against the window
He said an honest man's pillow is his peace of mind This world offers riches and riches will grow wings
And I don't take stock in those uncertain things Days turn to minutes and minutes to memories
Life sweeps away the dreams we have planned
You are young and you are the future
Suck it up and tough it out, be the best you can The old man had a vision, it was hard for me to follow
I do things my way, pay an awfully high price
When I think back on the old man and the bus ride
Now that I'm older I can see he was right Another hot one out on highway eleven
This is my life, it's what I've chosen to do
There's no free rides and no one said it'd be easy
The old man told me this my son I'm telling it to you Days turn to minutes and minutes to memories
Life sweep away the dreams we have planned
You are young and you are the future
Suck it up and tough it out, be the best you can