I've been chasing after Josie since the day I could run

Even though I didn't know it at the time

And I followed her from Texas 'til she found me undone

Just a jump ahead of what I left behind.



She was proud of her young body as a body could be

On her way to be a woman of the world

And I still can see her smiling as she gave it to me

Lookin' like a lonesome little girl.



Chorus:

Josie, is it true that you've grown harder than your years

Sellin' them your sadness on the street

How much did you lose between the laughter and the tears

Gettin' back the bitter for the sweet



Well, she loved me back to livin' at a time I was lost

With the closest thing to love I've ever known

And she led me through some bridges I was burnin' to cross

Then she went and burned some bridges of her own.



Now the road's a little colder every time that I leave

For another empty place I've never been

And I don't suppose it's likely that she's lookin' for me

But someday I may just chase her down again.



Chorus:

Josie, is it true that you've grown harder than your years

Sellin' them your sadness on the street

How much did you lose between the laughter and the tears

Gettin' back the bitter for the sweet