[STYLE: Texas Blues, powerful electric guitar-driven blues with a hard swinging groove, gritty and confident] [INTRO: 12 bars, overdriven electric guitar riff, bass and drums gradually entering, short guitar fills] [VERSE 1] I left my woman crying at the station last night I left my woman crying at the station last night She said, "You keep on running, boy, you ain't living right" I threw my bag in the backseat, put my foot down on the floor I threw my bag in the backseat, put my foot down on the floor Ain't looking for forgiveness, I ain't coming back no more [PRE-CHORUS: Guitar answers each vocal phrase, drums build] I've got a tank full of gasoline And a heart that's running wild I've been walking through the darkness Like a reckless Texas child [CHORUS: Full band, strong vocal delivery] I'm burning down the highway With the devil on my trail I'm burning down the highway With the wind inside my sails I don't know where I'm going But I know where I won't stay I'm burning down the highway And I'm driving pain away [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK 1: 16 bars, fiery Texas electric guitar solo, wide bends, double-stop riffs, rhythmic backing] [VERSE 2] The sun came up behind me somewhere west of town The sun came up behind me somewhere west of town I heard that old six-string screaming when I finally slowed it down Ain't no money in my pocket, ain't no promise in my hand Ain't no money in my pocket, ain't no promise in my hand But I've got four good tires and a road across this land [PRE-CHORUS: Half-time feel for 4 bars, then return to shuffle] Every mile is telling me That I made the right mistake Some roads are meant for leaving Some hearts are meant to break [CHORUS: Full band, heavier guitar fills] I'm burning down the highway With the devil on my trail I'm burning down the highway With the wind inside my sails I don't know where I'm going But I know where I won't stay I'm burning down the highway And I'm driving pain away [INSTRUMENTAL BREAK 2: 24 bars, extended guitar solo, aggressive bends, Texas shuffle rhythm, call-and-response between guitar and bass] [VERSE 3] I stopped at a roadside bar when the evening turned to gold I stopped at a roadside bar when the evening turned to gold An old man heard my story and said, "Son, I've been that cold" He said, "You can chase the highway, you can chase another town You can chase a thousand women, but you can't outrun yourself around" I looked down at my guitar And I knew exactly what he meant Sometimes a man keeps moving Just to hide where his heart went [BRIDGE: Arrangement drops to drums, bass and clean guitar; vocal intimate] Maybe I was running Maybe I was scared Maybe all the love I lost Was love I never dared Maybe there's a place somewhere Where a broken man can heal Maybe there's a road ahead Where he finally learns to feel [BREAKDOWN: 8 bars, drums and bass with short guitar stabs] [CALL AND RESPONSE: Vocal and guitar] I say, "Can you hear me, highway?" [Guitar response] "Can you carry me tonight?" [Guitar response] "I've been running from my shadow" [Guitar response] "Till I finally see the light" [Long guitar response] [CHORUS: Extended, maximum energy] I'm burning down the highway With the devil on my trail I'm burning down the highway With the wind inside my sails I don't know where I'm going But I know where I won't stay I'm burning down the highway And I'm driving pain away I'm burning down the highway Let that six-string testify I'm burning down the highway With the Texas moon up high If tomorrow brings me trouble I'll just face it on the way I'm burning down the highway And I'm driving pain away [FINAL VOCAL AD LIBS: Powerful but controlled] Keep that engine running... Keep that six-string crying... Ain't turning back... No, I ain't turning back...
