There was Johnny like a stranger
Living in a small town
Measuring the small time
He was thinner than a razor
Johnny in a small town
Living with his thumb on the trigger
Wishing he could be just a little bit bigger
Bored to the heart of himself

He was trouble in the making
Trouble in the keeping, history repeating
He was walking into danger
Johnny in a small town
Looking for a light in the tunnel
Creeping in the dark and
Doubting that the sun'll
Shine to the heart of himself

And he tells himself, 'It'll be alright'
Happiness is just around the corner
And he tells himself, 'It'll be okay'
Happiness is just a life away

She was pretty as a picture
Shining in a window, everybody said so
What did Johnny have to give her?
Johnny in a small town
Putting on a suit he had borrowed
Knowing she would probably
Leave him tomorrow
Weak and alone with himself

And he tells himself, 'It'll be alright'
Happiness is just around the corner
And he tells himself, 'It'll be okay'
Happiness is just a life away

Everything is different but
It's all the same to him
Everything is nothing like it was
Before she came
Before she stayed and went away

She left Johnny like a stranger
Waiting in a small town
Measuring the small time
Nights were longer than the days were
Living in a small town
Looking for a door he could open
Hoping that he wouldn't break until' he broken
Free to the heart of himself

And he tells himself, 'It'll be alright'
Happiness is just around the corner
And he tells himself, 'It'll be okay'
Happiness is just a life away

And he tells himself, 'It'll be alright'
Happiness is just around the corner
And he tells himself, 'It'll be okay'
Happiness is just a life away
A life away just a life away