A Tree To My Ear

I'm not too sure why I like what I like. But the Drive-By Truckers paint North America like Axel Hou can paint a tree to my ear. If you are wondering what all the splattering is about: the shit hit the fan so long ago it has dried up and is a little hard to recognize.

I got a brand new car that drinks a bunch of gas

I got a house in a neighbourhood that's fading fast

I got a dog and a cat that don't fight too much

I got a few hundred channels to keep me in touch

I got a beautiful wife and three tow-headed kids

I got a couple of big secrets I'd kill to keep hid

I don't know god but I fear his wrath

I'm trying to keep focused on the righteous path

I got a couple of opinions that I hold dear

A whole lot of debt and a whole lot of fear

I got an itch that needs scratching but it feels alright

I got the need to blow it out on Saturday night

I got a grill in the backyard and a case of beers

I got a boat that ain't seen the water in years

More bills than money, I can do the math

I'm trying to keep focused on the righteous path

I'm trying to keep focused as I drive down the road

On the ditches and the curves and the heavy load

Ain't bitching bout things that aren't in my grasp

Just trying to hold steady on the righteous path

There's this friend of mine I've known all my life

Who can't get it right no matter how hard he tries

He's got kids he don't see and several ex-wives

And a list of bad decisions bout eight miles wide

He's got questions I can't answer and he asks my advice

A rap sheet with the cops and a lot of thin ice

He's a long way off but if you was to ask

He'd say he's trying to stay focused on the righteous path

Trying to keep focused as we drive down the road

Like we did back in High School before the world turned cold

Now the brakes are thin and the curves are fast

We're trying to hold steady on the righteous path

We're hanging out and we're hanging on

We're trying the best we can to keep keeping on

We got messed up minds for these messed up times

And it's a thin, thin line separating his from mine

Trying to hold steady on the righteous path

80 miles an hour with a worn out map

No time for self-pity or self-righteous crap

Trying to stay focused on the righteous path