Thunder Road
Nate Ruess Lyrics

The screen door slams, Mary's dress waves
Mary leaves the house in a hurry, with her dress waving as she steps out

Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays
Mary looks beautiful as she moves across the porch and music plays in the background

Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
The music playing is Roy Orbison, singing about loneliness

Hey, that's me and I want you only
The artist relates to the song's message and declares his love for Mary

Don't turn me home again, I just can't face myself alone again
The artist begs Mary not to send him away as he can't handle being alone again

Don't run back inside, darling, you know just what I'm here for
The singer reassures Mary about his intentions and asks her to stay

So you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore
The singer acknowledges that they are growing older and Mary may be hesitant about running away with him

Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
The artist tells Mary to have faith, as there's something magical about the night

You ain't a beauty but, hey, you're alright
The artist reassures Mary that even though she's not conventionally beautiful, he still thinks she's great

Oh, and that's alright with me
The artist is content with Mary as she is

You can hide 'neath your covers and study your pain
The singer acknowledges that Mary has been hurt and is trying to cope with her pain

Make crosses from your lovers, throw roses in the rain
Mary has turned her pain into art and symbolism by making crosses and throwing roses

Waste your summer praying and praying
Mary has spent the summer praying for something better to come along

For a savior to rise from these streets
Mary is looking for someone to save her from her pain and difficult life

Hey now, I ain't no hero, that's understood
The singer clarifies that he is not a hero and can't save Mary from all her struggles

All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood
The artist can only offer Mary a new life and a fresh start

With a chance to make it good somehow
The artist believes that he and Mary can make a new life together

Hey, what else can we do now?
The singer believes that taking a chance on each other is the only option left for them

Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back your hair
The singer encourages Mary to let loose and enjoy the ride

Well, the night's busting open, these two lanes will take us anywhere
The night is full of possibility and adventure, and the artist believes that they can go anywhere

We got one last chance to make it real
This is the only opportunity they have to make a new life together

To trade in these wings on some wheels
Their chance to get away and start over is more important than anything else in their lives

Climb in back, heaven's waiting on down the tracks
The singer asks Mary to get into the car so they can start their new life together

Oh oh, come take my hand
The artist extends his hand to Mary, inviting her to run away with him

We're riding out tonight to case the promised land
The singer and Mary are leaving tonight to start their new life together

Oh oh oh oh, Thunder Road
The song is an ode to the car that they are escaping in, Thunder Road

Oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road
The song's chorus praises the car as the key to their freedom and new life

Lying out there like a killer in the sun
Thunder Road is waiting for them, unstoppable and bold- like a killer

Hey, I know it's late, we can make it if we run
The artist assures Mary that they can still get away, even though it's late

Sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road
The singer tells Mary to buckle up and hold tight as they embark on their journey

Well, I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk
The singer has a guitar that he uses to express himself

And my car's out back if you're ready to take that long walk
The artist's car is waiting to whisk them away to a new life

From your front porch to my front seat
The artist invites Mary to leave behind her old life and come with him

The door's open but the ride ain't free
While the opportunity is there for Mary to escape, they will face challenges along the way

And I know you're lonely for words that I ain't spoken
The singer recognizes that Mary is hurting, and feels regret that he has not always been there for her

But tonight we'll be free, all the promises'll be broken
As they start their new life, they will be free of their past and able to break free of their old promises

There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away
Mary has a haunted past, which includes boys she's sent away

They haunt this dusty beach road in the skeleton frames of burned-out Chevrolets
The consequences of Mary's past mistakes are still haunting her and the places she frequents

They scream your name at night in the street
Mary's actions continue to come back to haunt her, with people blaming her for their misfortunes

Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
Mary has lost everything she once held dear and is in a state of ruin and decay

And in the lonely cool before dawn
Mary is alone and isolated, with no one around to help or comfort her

You hear their engines rolling on
The past continues to haunt Mary, making her feel as though she can't escape it

But when you get to the porch, they're gone on the wind
Despite feeling as though she's being followed by her past, it disappears as soon as it arrives

So Mary, climb in
The artist begs Mary to join him on the journey towards a better life

It's a town full of losers, I'm pulling out of here to win
The artist recognizes that their town is full of people who have lost their way and he is determined to get out and to succeed