But the road was so wide, there was nowhere to hide
So I hid in my tears now and then
The shadows at night made that first morning light
Seem like a long-lost friend

Coffee and a song, and I would be gone
Hitching a ride with the wind
Dreams for my pay, never thought I'd call those days
The lonesome way back when

CHORUS
The lonesome way back when
When all of your songs were like friends
You treated each line like a child
Some stayed close to home and others ran wild
And your body and soul were so tight
They were stolen by thieves in the night

So I ran like a fool, guarding my jewels
With so many friends by my side
But between you and me, it was so hard to see
So many good dreams die

Cause I've seen all the hustle,and felt all the muscle baby
When I was down on the scrounge
Now I'm living in Vegas, making my wages
My old lady sings in the lounge

Sometimes at night, when the moon's shining bright
My old Buick and I take a spin
And my mind drifts away to the old bygone days
And the lonesome way back when