Dust on the Dashboard

{intimate

fingerpicked

acoustic guitar swells} {warm pedal steel slides}

The gravel pops like gunfire underneath these aging tires

I’m packing up the heavy parts of how I used to feel

The truck’s already sold,

the title’s in my hand

Just one last look at the silhouette of this godforsaken land

The engine’s ticking cold,

the morning’s burning gray

I’m turning off the porch light and I’m finally pulling away.

There’s a film of dust on the dashboard,

shadows deep on the seat Every mile is a ghost that I’m

trying to keep, but it’s time to let go

The radio’s cutting out,

playing that static-filled tune About a girl and a summer that died

way too soon

Yeah, the life I’m leaving is just smoke in the air But

I’ve got enough road left to know that I’m getting somewhere.

I found a Polaroid wedged in the visor,

curled up at the ends

We were young, we were reckless,

we were more than just friends

Sitting on the tailgate,

watching the August sun drown in the pines

You were laughing at nothing,

tracing the map lines with fingers divine

But the clock didn't break—no,

it just kept on grinding away

And you chose the hollow,

while I’m choosing to finally not stay.

There’s a film of dust on the dashboard,

shadows deep on the seat Every mile is a ghost

that I’m trying to keep,

but it’s time to let go

The radio’s cutting out,

playing that static-filled tune

About a girl and a summer that died way too soon

Yeah, the life I’m leaving is just smoke in the air But

I’ve got enough road left to know that I’m getting somewhere.

It ain’t that I’m running from anything wrong or unkind

I’m just chasing a version of me that I left far behind

The horizon is burning,

it’s wide and it’s gold

And I’ve got a life left to write

that’s never been told.

The state line sign is coming,

and I’m picking up speed Watching the town disappear

like a habit I didn't need

I’m wiping the glass,

the dust is flying back in the breeze

Just me and the yellow lines,

finally feeling some ease.

Yeah, I’m getting somewhere…

I’m finally getting somewhere.

Just me, the white lines,

and the dust on the dashboard. (somewhere...)

{extended pedal steel solo} {acoustic guitar fading out}