You broke out of your pen, said, "Amen,"
You can't go home again if it's never been.
You just kept playing your song and then
You played it even louder even when they said, "When!"
You got a tattoo, didn't think it through,
Now you're getting gone to go be somebody new,
Two less shoulders to bump into
Letting loose while truth settles in.
Well, for 16 years your ma n' papa told you,
"Don't you know someday you got to put it all down,"
But you just didn't listen, you just couldn't listen,
You just kept a-wishin' and look at you now,
Well, you're out there prowling like a moondog howling
At the night eye full and round,
And everybody told me that you'd always be a-runnin'
And you'll never settle down.
You got plenty of steam, just running outta green;
Got enough for cheap beer and gasoline,
Mama told you, "Don't you let 'em make you mean!"
But you're harder than the hinges of eternity it seems
You put some new lines on your old face
Trying to fix an old heart with a new place;
Fat on freedom where most got a taste,
Now there's no case for getting lean.
Now for 22 years, your ma n' papa told you,
"Don't you know someday you got to put it all down,"
But you just didn't listen, you just couldn't listen,
You just kept a-wishin' and look at you now,
Well, you're out there prowling like a moondog howling
At the night eye full and round,
And everybody told me that you'd always be a-runnin'
And you'll never settle down.
Well, it's that old fire you never could kill,
Now your stuck between low and lower still,
Just a specter sent, your spine to chill;
An old ghost floating like wind under your sill,
Oh, but those old tunes, they still feel new
Enough to kick up a little dust to,
There ain't no sense in saving you,
You're gonna do just what you will.
Now for 34 years your ma n' papa told you,
"Don't you know someday you got to put it all down,"
But you just didn't listen, you just couldn't listen,
You just kept a-wishin' and look at you now,
Well, you're out there prowling like a moondog howling
At the night eye full and round,
And everybody told me that you'd always be a-runnin'
And you'll never settle down.