Shadow of an Empty Stage

Marlena James – Vocals Maynard Brooks – Lead Guitars Benny Wilson – Sax/Keys Junior Taylor – Bass Rodney "Sticks" Davis - Drums Jimmy "Sprocket" Raines - Guitars Green dashboard light says it's half past three Just the hum of the diesel and the ghost of me Passing semi-trucks cutting through the gray Another neon sign fading miles away Staring out the glass at a world asleep Counting down the secrets that the blacktop keeps Just the static hiss on a dead-air station Chasing down a dream with no destination The ringing in my ears is starting to clear The roar of the crowd feels a million miles from here Moving through the dark at a highway pace From the center of the stage to this narrow metal space And the miles just tick on by Underneath a heavy midnight sky Lost inside my own head, rolling through the dark Leaving every city with a piece of my heart Counting up the promises we had to break Paying for the choices that we had to make Yeah, the road keeps turning, turning the page Living in the shadow of an empty stage Cold paper cup full of yesterday's blend Wondering where the last town's supposed to end The boys are all sleeping in the bunks in the back Safe from the suits and the corporate track Just a rolling fortress on a two-lane line Trading our youth for a highway sign Another thousand miles on a rusted frame Another smoky venue where they know our name The ringing in my ears is starting to clear The roar of the crowd feels a million miles from here Moving through the dark at a highway pace From the center of the stage to this narrow metal space As the white lines flash and fade Trading out the sunshine for the midnight shade Listening to the diesel sing its lonely song Rackin' up the hours as we're rolling along Counting up the promises we had to break Paying for the choices that we had to make Yeah, the road keeps turning, turning the page Living in the shadow of an empty stage They say it's a dream when you're chasing the light But nobody tells you about the dead of the night When the applause fades out and the quiet sets in And you're just a passenger trapped in your skin Staring at the shadows on the interstate wall Wondering if anyone answers the call But we do it for the music, we do it for the bond Chasing down the rhythm to the great beyond! The ringing in my ears is starting to clear The roar of the crowd feels a million miles from here Moving through the dark at a highway pace From the center of the stage to this narrow metal space Now the coffee's gone stone cold Just another story left untold Distant state lines rolling past the window pane Washing off the neon in the morning rain Counting up the promises we had to break Paying for the choices that we had to make Yeah, the road keeps turning, turning the page Living in the shadow of an empty stage Just the road... Just me and my boys...