Roll The Windows Down

I hit the button on the plastic door

The heavy glass slides down into the frame

The rush of summer wind fills up the cab

And blows away the dust of yesterday

I love the feeling of the road

The black switch clicks and lets the fresh wind in

The green trees flash like banners on the right

Everything is easy now

My jacket billows on the passenger seat

The smell of pine comes floating from the hills

I rest one arm out on the painted sill

And feel the heat of asphalt on my skin

I love the feeling of the road

The black switch clicks and brings the outside near

The yellow line stretches for miles ahead

Everything is moving right

It does not matter where we end the day

The air is clean and tastes like open grass

We press the pedal just a little bit

And let the quiet distance pass

I love the feeling of the road

The black switch clicks and keeps us cool and calm

The bright sky spreads as far as I can see

Everything is light and clear

The wind keeps singing in our ears

The window stays down all the way

We drive until the sky turns dark

And smile at how good it feels

The city traffic slows behind my back

I twist the key and leave the morning track

The coffee in the holder is still warm

Ahead of me the sky is clear and calm

It feels so good to be moving

The metal key rests cold against my hand

The afternoon is wide and soft and green

We have all the time we need today

The high rises shrink down to rowhouse roofs

The highway opens up without a sound

I rest my elbow on the window frame

And let the quiet miles clear my mind

It feels so good to be moving

The white lines dance along the dark asphalt

The engine hums a low and steady song

I do not care how far we go

No meetings left to take

No calls to answer now

Just twenty gallons in the tank

And sun upon the hood

It feels so good to be moving

The sky turns golden right above the trees

The open road is calling bright and clear

There is no place we have to be

We keep on rolling down the lane

The evening light is coming in

We rest our hands upon the wheel

And watch the endless line go by

I tilt the mirror just a little bit

To see the concrete towers fall away

The traffic lights give up their red and green

And give us miles of smooth and open gray

There is a lightness in the air

The small glass mirror shows the city small

The air coming through the vents is sweet

We are finally on our way

The power lines run parallel to us

They dip and rise beside the fences now

A billboard advertises summer fruit

I pull my sunglasses down off my head

There is a lightness in the air

The tall glass towers disappear behind

The smooth black asphalt stretches out ahead

We are taking all our time

The city noise is just a whisper now

The shadows lengthen across the dirt

The highway sweeps around a gentle curve

And opens up the whole wide world

There is a lightness in the air

The evening sun is warm upon my face

My shoulders drop another inch or two

We are free to coast along

The mirror stays clear and wide

We leave the heavy town behind

The road goes on and on

And we just keep on going

I turn the round black knob from side to side

A faint brass horn comes through the fuzz and hiss

Then drops away as hills begin to rise

Leaving a quiet hum inside the car

The road is playing its own tune

The plastic dial glows softly in the dark

The tires sing against the concrete groove

We are doing just fine out here

I find a station playing acoustic guitar

It fades out slow behind a clump of trees

I do not mind the silence when it comes

It sounds like space and room to breathe

The road is playing its own tune

The plastic dial clicks over to the tape

The steady rhythm carries us along

We are doing just fine out here

No news report can reach us in this glen

No ticking clocks or buzzing phone alarms

Just warm air from the dashboard vents

And two steady hands upon the wheel

The road is playing its own tune

The plastic dial glows gently through the night

The music rises soft and stays right here

We are doing just fine out here

The station fades into the quiet sky

The engine keeps its steady rhythm now

We hum along to nothing at all

And feel completely settled in

The neon sign stands bright against the dusk

I pull up close beside the metal pump

The smell of gasoline is sharp and clean

I stretch my legs upon the gravel lot

We got a full tank for the night

The paper receipt comes sliding out the door

The hot tea steams inside its paper cup

There is nowhere else I would rather be

I check the oil with a rag I found

The engine block is ticking as it cools

I wipe my hands and step back in the cab

And feel the leather seat give way again

We got a full tank for the night

The paper receipt gets folded in my coat

The tires are solid and the oil is clean

There is nowhere else I would rather be

The clerk behind the glass gives us a wave

I put the car in gear and ease away

The gravel crunches under four good tires

And then we hit the smooth main road

We got a full tank for the night

The paper receipt is sitting on the dash

The night is big and quiet all around

There is nowhere else I would rather be

The station lights fade in the glass

We slide back into the dark lane

The needle rests up on the right

And we keep rolling on

I drop the gear lever down into third

The car takes power with a steady growl

The pine trees lean across the narrow lane

As we go curving up the mountain ridge

The world gets bigger at the top

The gear shift lever feels cool in my palm

The valley below is quiet and blue

We are rising up above the rest

The air turns crisp as altitude goes up

I see the valley settled like a map

Small farmhouse lights start blinking one by one

While we keep climbing higher in the dark

The world gets bigger at the top

The gear shift lever sits right where it belongs

The engine pulls us smooth and strong and true

We are rising up above the rest

No rush to reach the summit crest

Just shifting smooth from side to side

Every corner brings a fresh cool breeze

And miles of space to clear our thoughts

The world gets bigger at the top

The gear shift lever rests between our seats

The stars come out above the ridge line now

We are rising up above the rest

We top the hill and look out far

The engine rests its heavy load

We coast along the ridge line now

And feel at peace with where we are

For twenty miles I have not seen a light

Just empty asphalt stretching to the sky

The yellow lines are glowing in the beam

And not a single tailgate in my view

This whole wide road belongs to us

The white painted lines keep steady on the right

The miles roll by like water in a stream

We have all this space to ourselves

I flip the high beams on to light the dark

The trees stand up like tall green guards

I take the center of the double line

And let the car drift gently on the curve

This whole wide road belongs to us

The white painted lines show us where to go

The engine hums its single peaceful note

We have all this space to ourselves

No brake lights flashing up ahead

No hurry in the way we glide

Just black pavement underneath our wheels

And smooth air on every side

This whole wide road belongs to us

The white painted lines keep guiding us along

The night is cool and friendly and wide

We have all this space to ourselves

The lane stays clear as far as eyes can see

No other car comes down the ridge

We hold the wheel with easy hands

And ride the dark road home

Your head drops down against the folded coat

The seatbelt holds you gently in your place

Your breathing settles down into a rhythm

Matching the steady hum of four good wheels

I will keep us moving smooth

The folded coat supports your quiet head

The dashboard lights glow amber in the dark

You can rest as long as you need

I drive real smooth so I do not wake you up

I dodge the small bumps in the right hand lane

The heater blows warm air around our feet

While outside shadows glide across the grass

I will keep us moving smooth

The folded coat stays soft beneath your cheek

The yellow lines go marching past the door

You can rest as long as you need

It feels good to be the one who drives

To hold the wheel and keep the path straight

To watch you sleeping soundly through the hills

And know that everything is right

I will keep us moving smooth

The folded coat is warm against the glass

The night is calm and safe around the car

You can rest as long as you need

Sleep tight until the morning comes

The road is quiet, soft and long

I hold the lane and steer us on

And keep you safe all night

I pull the sun visor down an inch or two

The sky turns orange over fields of hay

The hood shines bright like painted copper plate

As evening settles down across the county

The day is ending soft and slow

The sun visor blocks the final golden beam

The shadows stretch long across the road

It is the best time of the drive

The farm barns glow like embers in the field

The fence posts cast long shadows on the dirt

I slow down just a bit to watch the light

Slide off the edges of the universe

The day is ending soft and slow

The sun visor keeps the glow out of my eyes

The air turns cooler as the daylight drops

It is the best time of the drive

No morning hurry left inside my head

No afternoon heat on the roof

Just golden hour stretching out ahead

And total quiet on the road

The day is ending soft and slow

The sun visor folds back up against the roof

The purple sky takes over from the gold

It is the best time of the drive

The light fades down to soft dark blue

The dashboard lights come on real sweet

We ride through dusk without a care

And watch the first star shine

I pull the switch and two bright beams cut through

The deep dark blue that covers up the highway

The dash light glows yellow on the speed

And everything outside is quiet now

The night is quiet, dark and clean

The yellow dash light shines upon my hands

The two bright beams show fifty yards ahead

We are gliding smooth through the dark

The reflectors on the posts shine back like eyes

Each white line jumps up as we come near

I sit back deep into the cloth seat

And feel the car just carry us along

The night is quiet, dark and clean

The yellow dash light keeps its steady glow

The twin light beams sweep around the bend

We are gliding smooth through the dark

There is a special peace at nine o clock

When all the world has gone inside to rest

And we are out here on the open asphalt

Doing what we like the best

The night is quiet, dark and clean

The yellow dash light rests at fifty five

The forward lights make tunnels in the trees

We are gliding smooth through the dark

The dark road stretches out for miles

The twin lights guide us all the way

We hum along into the night

And feel completely light inside

My hands rest lightly on the leather wheel

I feel the hum of six cylinders below

No knocks or rattles as we push ahead

Just pure smooth motion on the highway floor

The car is running like a dream

The leather wheel turns easy in my palm

The quiet engine sings its steady note

We can go anywhere tonight

We serviced every spark plug yesterday

The fresh oil flows real clean inside the pump

It takes the hill without a single strain

And stays as quiet as a sleeping house

The car is running like a dream

The leather wheel is firm and cool and smooth

The power responds to every little touch

We can go anywhere tonight

When machine and road fit right together

There is nothing extra you need to fix

Just set your speed and let the tires turn

And watch the miles disappear

The car is running like a dream

The leather wheel feels right inside my grip

The engine hums its perfect little tune

We can go anywhere tonight

The motor purrs against the dark

The steering holds us straight and true

We ride along with easy hearts

And let the machine do its work

You turn the paper map upside down again

And laugh out loud at where we ended up

A dirt road winding through a apple orchard

Far away from where the highway goes

There are no bad turns on this road

The paper map gets folded in your lap

The orchard trees are heavy with green fruit

We found a better way to go

You pointed left when you meant right back there

And now we are crossing an old wooden bridge

The river sparkles in the afternoon

And neither one of us minds at all

There are no bad turns on this road

The paper map lies forgotten on the floor

The quiet lane leads somewhere very nice

We found a better way to go

Who cares about the shortest route today

Who cares about the destination mark

We have a full tank and a sunny sky

And plenty of gas until it is dark

There are no bad turns on this road

The paper map can stay right where it fell

The gravel road is soft beneath our tires

We found a better way to go

We follow where the orchard lane turns off

You lean your head back and sing along

We are happily lost out in the hills

And having the best time of all

I reach out and open up the air vent wide

The night air rushes cool against my chest

The heat of daytime leaves the cabin floor

As midnight spreads across the empty plains

The night air clears away my thoughts

The plastic vent blows cool across my skin

The darkness stretches wide on every side

Everything feels fresh and new

I smell wet grass and damp earth from the fields

The tires make a gentle whispering sound

I adjust the vent to point right at my face

And breathe in deep until my lungs feel light

The night air clears away my thoughts

The plastic vent stays open to the breeze

The dark highway is silent as a dream

Everything feels fresh and new

No heavy thoughts can stay inside this car

When cool wind fills the front and back

We ride along like floating on a pond

And leave our worries far behind

The night air clears away my thoughts

The plastic vent keeps blowing clean and cold

The dashboard clock shows twelve o clock sharp

Everything feels fresh and new

The cool wind keeps us awake and calm

The air vent stays open all the way

We glide across the sleeping plains

And feel completely light and clear

I watch the small numbers tick on by

The silver needle stays on sixty three

Five hundred miles since we left the yard

And many more ahead before we stop

The distance is a quiet friend

The odometer clicks another digit through

The empty spaces stretch out wide and free

We are making steady progress now

One town was just a single grocery store

The next was just a blinking yellow light

Between them lies ten leagues of open grass

Where cattle graze beside the wooden fence

The distance is a quiet friend

The odometer shows how far we have come

The open space is peaceful to the eye

We are making steady progress now

It feels good to put distance on the track

To see how far a simple road can go

No rush at all, just steady rolling wheels

And calm thoughts flowing soft and slow

The distance is a quiet friend

The odometer turns its white numbers slow

The wide prairie goes on for miles and miles

We are making steady progress now

The numbers turn and show another mile

The highway stretches onward to the west

We hold our steady pace across the land

And feel the peace of open space

I click the glovebox handle shut again

After pulling out a pair of sunglasses

The hinge shuts tight with a solid snap

While we cruise along the four lane track

Everything is steady and smooth

The glovebox latch is clicked into its spot

The engine holds its rhythm nice and low

We are riding in complete comfort

The road is flat as glass for miles ahead

No sudden bumps or potholes in our way

I rest one foot flat upon the floor

And let the cruise control hold down the speed

Everything is steady and smooth

The glovebox latch holds firm against the dash

The tires roll without a single shake

We are riding in complete comfort

There is a balance when the car runs right

When everything is clean and in its place

You do not need to hurry or to slow

Just keep this steady easy pace

Everything is steady and smooth

The glovebox latch sits quiet on the right

The sun shines bright upon the open road

We are riding in complete comfort

We keep this easy motion all day long

The car runs smooth as silk upon the lane

We hold our course without a single care

And ride along in total peace

I pull the lever of the parking brake

Just to test the spring before we pause

We roll real slow along the gravel turnout

And look across the valley down below

We made it through the long day's drive

The parking brake lever sits ready to my right

The valley light is turning soft and deep

We are completely settled now

I turn the ignition key and let it rest

The engine dies down to a peaceful quiet

We sit inside and listen to the heat

Fade from the exhaust beneath the floor

We made it through the long day's drive

The parking brake rests solid in its place

The cool evening breeze comes through the door

We are completely settled now

Four hundred miles of open blacktop road

Four hundred miles of clear and easy mind

We take a deep breath in the quiet car

And leave all hurry far behind

We made it through the long day's drive

The parking brake holds us safe and still

The stars come out above the quiet hills

We are completely settled now

The journey lands us in a quiet spot

The car is resting, cool and safe and calm

We sit together in the evening air

And feel at home right where we are