The Promised Road

from Crucible, PA

Written by: Alex Shelbourne

You look really nice tonight

I mean, I guess you always do

Look, Molly, there’s something I really need to get through

So, if you’ll wait a minute more

God, my dad was the same way

I didn’t know him much, but that much I know

But before he died he sat me down, which feels like forever ago

And found the words I guess he couldn’t find before

He said, “Son, I don’t know if I’ve been a smart man

But a man can have his doubts

I don’t know if there’s a lord above

But it’s probably best to stay devout

I didn’t know much about love

But one day I just figured it out

And if in the end, there’s no promised land I’m owed

At least I’ll die after a life on the promised road”

When he died, my childhood came and went

Along with Lucy, my only friend

In the mines, life becomes one long march to the end

But then I met you

And lately the town doesn’t seem so dark

Each day has new light and new worth

So, Molly, if you’ll make me the happiest man on earth

There’s nothing I wouldn’t do

I won’t pretend that I’m a smart man

But I’m a man without a doubt

I don’t know if there’s a lord above

But it’s probably best to stay devout

I don’t know much about love

But I think I’m startin’ to figure it out

And if in the end, there’s no promised land I’m owed

At least I’ll die after a life on the promised road

This town, everything looks the same

Lives up to its name

The sky doesn’t shine blue, it shows brown

But all hearts are pure

The people endure

We don’t have to stand up, we stay down

The ground dies of thirst

Family comes first

Where you’ll find me around the rest of my days

And that’s okay

I don’t care if I’m a smart man

I’m a good man without a doubt

I don’t care if there’s a lord above

It won’t stop me from staying devout

I don’t know if I’ll make a good dad

But when the day comes, we’ll figure it out

And if in the end, there’s no promised land I’m owed

At least I’ll die after a life on the promised road

© 2019 by Alex Shelbourne