The Folded Map

-- Auto --

Instrumental Intro

Verse 1

Southbound on the 405

Too bright for this hour

Phone died two exits back

So I'm left with the static and the sky

Map on the seat beside me

Folded wrong for years

Her name in the margin

Blue ink starting to bleed

Pre-Chorus

Every town I skimmed across

Told me keep on going

But the radio keeps playing

That old song she used to hum

Chorus

I'm driving toward the light that I can't name

Leaving nothing but the miles and the rain

Every signpost says go home

But I keep chasing what I already own

Verse 2

Gas station at Barstow

Counter full of keys

The man says you look tired son

I say I've been awake for days

He points out past the window

To a ridge against the dusk

Says people stop here looking for

The exact same thing you carry in your truck

Pre-Chorus

Every town I skimmed across

Told me keep on going

But that old man saw the map

Folded wrong inside my chest

Chorus

I'm driving toward the light that I can't name

Leaving nothing but the miles and the rain

Every signpost says go home

But I keep chasing what I already own

Bridge

So I pull off at the next dirt road

Kill the engine in the quiet

There's nothing here but cicadas

And a cold wind off the high plains

I open up the folded map

And for the first time I read it straight

Every line I drew was a circle

Back to the same driveway

Instrumental Journey

Final Chorus

I'm turning toward the light I can name

Solving nothing but the shame and the blame

Every signpost pointed home

And I was chasing what I already own

Outro

Moon low over the fence line

Her name still in the margin

I keep that map beside me

For the way home I finally found

-- Auto --