moving out

back when those old songs were new

that's when I first remember you

walking on the sidewalks of your old hometown

you always felt like you didn't belong

it took years to realize people were wrong

everyone around you let you down

well, those days are gone for good

you're the pride of the neighborhood

and everyone knows what you're about

you've finally aged enough to find

the real thief is inside your mind

and now you think it's time for moving out

find a city far from home

out there in the great unknown

your future is there and waiting for you

it's time for some place to call your home

a one bedroom apartment of your own

somewhere for yourself that's damn near new

get a job in your chosen trade

watch the strangers on parade

maybe even try to make some friends

I don't know nothing, who can say

if maybe love will come your way

but there's no way you're doing this again

          you'll come home for Christmas

          a fact that you cannot conceive

          maybe you'll think man, I miss this

          but you still can't wait until you leave

bright lights, big city: it's waiting for you

lots of fun and trouble to get into

absolutely nothing like your old hometown

you spend each day pursuing night

you convince yourself it's all right

it's your choice you're always running around

but late at night, when you're all alone

those memories summon you back home

a false impression of common ground

but false impressions never last

and the future's always going fast

there's not any peace to be found

go back to your subways, back to the streets

back to the strangers you never will meet

you are safe here, never you mind

tomorrows come and tomorrows go

watch out above, look out below

you'll pay it all no never-mind

one day you'll go back in time

and your history is what you'll find

all those times that you thought you forgot

but for now, you're far away from home

living in the twilight zone

hoping and pretending you won't get caught

wherever you're coming or going, you'll never know

the gravity of what you've left behind