one day

I want just one day

where I can do nothing

and not feel bad about it.

one day where I can do whatever I want

and there is no guilt involved.

one day where I can 

lift my arms to the heavens

and not think about the future.

and I know

that day is coming.

all I have to do

is work

and wait and accept it

when it comes.

over and over again

I do the best I can

I know some people 

don't understand

but I try hard

every time

I have to earn

to get what's mine

but I will succeed

I will win

because I'll start

over and over again

my heart has been broke

I know some people

think it's a joke

they laugh

they make fun of me

they think they

have the run of me

but they're wrong

and they've always been

because I'll work

over and over again

          I may try and I may fail

          but I will let the truth prevail

everything I've ever done

on my way

to the setting sun

every mistake

every traffic jam

all adds up

to who I am

I've had to be

my own best friend

because I'll try

over and over again

this is why you left home (rewrite 1)

over back fences

neighbors are talking

and they're discussing you

spreading rumors

and chicken squawking

none of it is true

but that's entertainment

in this little town

judging somebody

and knocking them down

and it's your turn

this time around

it's everything you've known

this is why you left home

on the internet

computer screen

old friends are guessing

where you're going

where you've been

you find it so depressing

but that's what it was like

where you grew up

it made you wonder

it made you tough

but now you're just tired

enough is enough

sadly, the seeds are sown

this is why you left home

wake up in a new town

smile a new smile

this is where you live

so many memories

since you were a child

so much to forgive

tuning out people

who make you upset

who dismiss your future

and feed your regrets

you often remember

but try to forget

the ones who turned to stone

this is why you left home

looking for a morning

I am looking for a morning

where I can sit and drink coffee

and look outside my window

and see the passers-by

and imagine what they're thinking

while the coffee I am drinking

cools down until I microwave it

time passes quickly these days

it rolls and runs down the hill

sometimes

in my imagination

I run with it

this is why you left home

over the back fence

neighbors are talking

and they're discussing you

spreading rumors

and chicken squawking

none of it is true

but that's entertainment

in this small town

taking someone

and keeping them down

and it's your turn

this time around

it's everything you've known

this is why you left home

on the internet

computer screen

old friends are guessing

where you're going

where you've been

you find it so depressing

but that's what counts as fun

where you grew up

it made you wonder

it made you tough

but now you're just tired

enough is enough

sadly, the seeds are sown

this is why you left home

wake up in a new town

smile a new smile

this is where you live

so many memories

since you were a child

so much to forgive

running from people

who make you upset

who discount your future

and feed your regrets

you often remember

but try to forget

the ones you turned to stone

this is why you left home

for G.L.

sing of railroads going through mountains

a hard road leading to a treasure chest

so many stars that you can't count them

now it's time to take your rest

sing of tortured love affairs

women wearing summer clothes

lyrics where nobody cares

and of devotion, I suppose

foolishly I keep hoping

here's a fact about my life

I don't expect anything anymore

I don't pretend it'll be all right 

the way I used to before

now I accept bad news

like it was meant to be

headlines on my cell phone

are all I need to see

still I wake each morning

wanting to be free

foolishly I keep hoping

what I'm missing in my life

is a future to look forward to

I know the ending is in sight

but I can't believe that's true

it's just an illusion

that life works out for me

a man with no ambition

is what I need to be

but still I wake each morning

to see what I can see

foolishly I keep hoping

 I don't want to give up this life

but I know I have no choice

all I hear is the black of night

echoed in my own voice

I've heard the darkest hour

is right before dawn

that's where I find a home

to set my dreams upon

but still i wake each morning

and I keep on keeping on

foolishly I keep hoping

foolishly I keep hoping