The skies were pure and the fields were green

And the sun was brighter than its ever been

When I grew up with my best friend Kenny

We were close as any brothers that you ever knew

It was always summer and the future called

We were ready for adventures and we wanted them all

There was so much left to dream and so much time to make it real



But I can still recall the sting of all the tears when he was gone

They said he crashed and burned

I know I'll never learn

Why any boy should die so young

We were racing we were soldiers of fortune

We got in trouble but we sure got around

There are times I think I see him peeling out of the dark

I think he's right behind me now and he's gaining ground



Chorus

But it was long ago and it was far away

Oh God it seems so very far

And if life is just a highway then the soul is just a car

And

Objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are (x4)



And when the sun descended and the night arose

I heard my father cursing everyone he knows

He was dangerous and drunk and defeated

And corroded by failure and envy and hate

There were endless winters and the dreams would freeze

Nowhere to hide and no leaves on the trees

And my father's eyes were blank as he hit me

Again and again and again



I know I still believe he'd never let me leave

I had to run away alone

So many threats and fears - so many wasted years

Before my life became my own

And though the nightmares should be over

Some of the terrors are still intact

I'll hear that ugly coarse and violent voice

And then he grabs me from behind and then he pulls me back!



Chorus



There was a beauty living on the edge of town

And she always put the top up and the hammer down

And she taught me everything I'll ever know

About the mystery and the muscle of love

The stars would glimmer and the moon would glow

I'm in the back seat with my Julie like a Romeo

And the signs along the highway all said

Caution! Kids at play!



Those were the rights of spring and we did everything

There was salvation every night

We got our dreams reborn and our upholstrey torn

But everything we did was right

She used her body just like a bandage

She used my body just like a wound

I'll probably never know where she disappeared

But I can see her rising up out of the backseat now

Just like an angel rising up from a tomb



Chorus



She used her body just like a bandage

She used my body just like a wound

I'll probably never know where she disappeared

But I can see her rising up out of the backseat now