He's breathes the air lightly, since skipping parole
And he dials the phone quietly but she put him on hold
There are good sons and bad seeds, she thinks he's the latter
But it no longer matters what she'll say
He'll be driving all night anyway

Over back roads he'll ride, then he cuts the headlights
And he watches their lives from the outside
And they can't let him in, so he's driving again
As he's wishful thinking on the outside

Oh, say can you see by the dawns early light
Playing on the T.V.?
I guess he's in for the night
He fell asleep waiting for his sister to call
All the motels and roadside bars
He wants home but it only gets farther

Over back roads he'll ride, then he cuts the headlights
And he watches their lives from the outside
And they can't let him in, so he's driving again
As he's wishful thinking on the outside

Yes, it's killing them
Knowing he's out there
Somewhere
Reminding that they could be too

Over back roads he'll ride, then he cuts the headlights
And he watches their lives on the outside
And they can't let him in, 'cause they know where he's been
So he's left there thinking on the outside
On the outside, on the outside