Old Desert Road

One, two, one, two, three

I went back down, went back down that old desert road
There was a broken billboard on the right
The past was gone, and the world had moved on
And I had to get back before it was night

I had a bad, bad feelin' that the word was gettin' 'round
That mahogany bird had chirped a dirty word
And now they got to clear out the whole town
I knew it was another rodeo
When she took the rhinestones and gold
That were simply laid out on a silver plate

Speedin' down, speedin' down that old desert road
I saw a woman with her arms outstretched in my dreams
And though she beckoned me toward her
She wore a shimmerin' scarlet dress
And I woke up not knowin' what that premonition means

But I had a bad, bad feelin' that the water level was runnin' low
And if you give in to fear, you'll stall, so that no matter where you crawl
It'll haunt you wherever you go
The next night she took me to the hill county
Where a march was bein' played
But a soldier grabbed me by my hand
And said, "My friend, you cannot stay"

Speedin' down, speedin' down that old desert road
And I keep my ridin' on
And I ain't gonna stop on a count of one fool little bird
Who never really, ever sang my song

But I had a bad, bad feelin', she'd get me thrown off the trail
Now, folks, I ain't never dropped
And I'll keep on, no need for you to collect my bail
It was just some Hollywood story, and now I'm holdin' the fuse
Ain't that fine? This life of mine, it's the one that I got to choose