Rex's Blues/Ft. Worth Blues
Steve Earle Lyrics

Ride the blue wind high and free
Take chances and live life on your own terms

She'll lead you down through misery
The thrill of life can be short-lived and lead to pain

Leave you low, come time to go
Life is unpredictable and often ends with disappointment

Alone and low as low can be
The end can be a solitary journey filled with sadness

If I had a nickel I'd find a game
Life is a gamble and each decision can lead to gain or loss

If I won a dollar I'd make it rain
Some people are never satisfied and always want more

If it rained an ocean I'd drink it dry
Some people can never have enough and will never be content

And lay me down dissatisfied
Life can be an unfulfilling journey, regardless of material possessions

Legs to walk and thoughts to fly
The human spirit is capable of great things

Eyes to laugh and lips to cry
Emotions are an integral part of the human experience

A restless tongue to classify
We are always seeking to understand and label the world around us

All born to grow and grown to die
Life is a finite experience for all living things

So tell my baby I said so long
Saying goodbye to loved ones is never easy

Tell my mother I did no wrong
Some people may worry about how they will be remembered

Tell my brother to watch his own
Everyone must look out for themselves in life

And tell my friends to mourn me none
Do not dwell on the past or negative experiences

I'm chained upon the face of time
Time is a constant and inescapable force

Feelin' full of foolish rhyme
Sometimes life can feel nonsensical or absurd

There ain't no dark till something shines
There can be no shadows without light

I'm bound to leave this dark behind
The difficult times will pass and there is always hope for the future

In Ft. Worth all the neon's burnin' bright
The bright lights of the city can be tempting but can also lead to trouble

Pretty lights red and blue
The visual appeal of the city can be captivating

But they'd shut down all the honky tonks tonight
Even the most exciting places must close at some point

And say a prayer or two
At the end of the night, we may turn to a higher power for guidance

If they only knew
If others could truly understand our struggles and emotions, they may show more empathy

You used to say the highway was your home
Some people feel most comfortable on the move, never settling in one place

But we both know that ain't true
While some people may claim to be free spirits, everyone has their own vulnerabilities

It's just the only place a man can go
Sometimes traveling is the only way to avoid facing difficult problems

When he don't know where he's travelin' to
Sometimes we do not know our ultimate destination in life

But Colorado's always clean and healin'
Some places in the world can have a calming and restorative effect

And Tennessee in Spring is green and cool
The natural beauty of some places can be awe-inspiring

It never really was your kind of town
Not all places are a good fit for every person

But you went around with the Ft. Worth Blues
Sometimes we get stuck in a difficult situation or mindset

Somewhere up beyond the great divide
The unknown future can be both scary and exciting

Where the sky is wide and the clouds are few
The possibilities of life are endless

A man can see his way clear to the light
With determination and optimism, we can navigate through life's challenges

Just hold on tight
Sometimes all we can do is persevere through tough times

That's all you gotta do
Simplicity can often be the key to overcoming problems

And they say Texas weather's always changin'
Life is unpredictable and always evolving

And one thing change'll bring is somethin' new
Change can be scary but can also bring new opportunities

And Houston really ain't that bad a town
Sometimes we must reframe our perspective on a place or situation

So you hang around with the Ft. Worth Blues
It can be difficult to break free from an unsatisfying situation

There's a full moon over Galway Bay tonight
The beauty and mystery of the natural world can be captivating

Silver light over green and blue
Nature can be a source of calm and peace

And every place I travel through, I find
The world can be full of wonder and beauty

Some kinda sign that you've been through
Our experiences shape who we are and are often impossible to forget

But Amsterdam was always good for grieving
Certain places can have a particular significance for certain emotions or activities

And London never fails to leave me blue
Everyone has their own triggers for difficult emotions

Paris never was my kinda town
Not everyone enjoys the same places or activities

So I walked around with the Ft. Worth Blues
We may stay in a difficult situation due to familiarity or a lack of other options