Throttle and Sirens

White line runs under my wheels

Radio coughs out a code

I was ten miles south of nowhere

With the gauge leaning hard on red

Blue sedan tucked in the median

Badge brim low on his head

I kept both hands on the wheel Like prayer could make me

clean

He hit the lane behind me

And the night got razor thin

I saw my whole life blinking

In the mirror again Highway patrol,

don't take me down tonight

I've been running from the man I used to be

Highway patrol, let that red sign roll to white

I can still make home if mercy rides with me

He walked up slow by my window

Boots crunching gravel and glass

Said son, where you headed so empty

I said away from my past

He saw the ring in the ashtray Saw the shake in my

hand

Highway patrol, don't take me down tonight

I've been running from the man I used to be

Highway patrol, let that red sign roll to white

I can still make home if mercy rides with me

He said, I know that look,

boy

I wore it once myself

Some roads don't need a jailer

Just a hard left toward help

Highway patrol,

don't take me down tonight

I've been running from the man I used to be

Highway patrol, I can see my porch light Mercy rides the lane

beside me

Let the siren fade behind me Let the dawn find me changed