The Key to the Road

[Intro]
[Verse]
Swept the floor at the hardware store
Flipped the sign on the front door
Walked home to the old garage
Past the ghost of a desert mirage
Grandpa’s '72 is waiting there
With a scent of oil in the air
I’ve been turning wrenches every night
Trying to get the timing right
[Pre-Chorus]
I remember how he used to sit
On the porch for a little bit
With a glass of lemonade in hand
Looking out across the timber land
He said "Son, if you treat her kind
She’ll never leave a mile behind"
[Chorus]
I’m fixing up this old machine
The prettiest thing you’ve ever seen
A wedding gift for a girl like you
Painted in a shade of morning blue
We’ll ride it past the city lights
Into all our forever nights
Got the hope and the engine roar
We don’t need much anymore
[Post-Chorus]
Just the key to the road
And a lighter load
Yeah, we’re good to go
[Verse]
Rusted fenders turning shiny and new
Just like the love I have for you
I sanded down the rougher parts
Healing up our heavy hearts
Found a picture tucked behind the seat
Of a younger him in the summer heat
Driving backroads with the windows down
Far away from this sleepy town
[Pre-Chorus]
Now I’m polishing the silver trim
Thinking 'bout the life I learned from him
He left the keys upon the shelf
But the work I had to do myself
[Chorus]
I’m fixing up this old machine
The prettiest thing you’ve ever seen
A wedding gift for a girl like you
Painted in a shade of morning blue
We’ll ride it past the city lights
Into all our forever nights
Got the hope and the engine roar
We don’t need much anymore
[Solo]
[Bridge]
From the church house to the county line
I’m so proud to call you mine
We’ll throw the bags in the wooden bed
With a lifetime of dreams ahead
No more grease on my calloused skin
This is where the real life begins
[Breakdown]
Soft pedal steel starts to cry
Underneath a wide open sky
I can hear his voice in the gear
Whispering that there’s nothing to fear
[Chorus]
I’m fixing up this old machine
The prettiest thing you’ve ever seen
A wedding gift for a girl like you
Painted in a shade of morning blue
We’ll ride it past the city lights
Into all our forever nights
Got the hope and the engine roar
We don’t need much anymore
[Post-Chorus]
Just the key to the road
And a lighter load
Yeah, we’re good to go
[Outro]