In The Past Tense

Heading back to my hometown
Been a while since I've been round
They tore all the playgrounds down
And built up dollar bills
Knocking on your old front door
Visit friends from way before
But they don't answer anymore
There's so much space to fill

And I'm trying to drive the memories
From eyes that beg to cry
I traded my security for open highway skies
And if Father Time was Peter Pan
The wind may not have took my hand
No point trying to understand
Cause I ain't coming back again

Traced my footprints back today
Wondered if I should have stayed
Makes no difference anyway
Cause nothing stays the same
Been around this whole wide world
Still can't shake that hometown girl
But she grew up and married Earl
And done forgot my name

Cause lately I've been falling through the holes inside my shoes
An empty pocket doesn't mean you got nothing to lose
Yeah, the years roll by, the wheels turn fast
You can't reverse the hourglass
No point trying to catch the past
Cause it ain't coming back again

Someone told me long ago
"Youth's the emerald of the soul
Live it up before you're old
Cause I was once like you"
I looked up at him and smiled
Back then I still had a while
But I walked a thousand miles
And now I know the truth

People take for granted all the stagnant times they shared
I bet you one day you'll look back and wish that you were there
Yeah, the page is filled, the story's told
My hometown breeze is blowing cold
See ya somewhere on the road
Cause I ain't coming back again
I'll see ya somewhere on the road
Cause I ain't coming back again
No, I ain't coming back again
No, I ain't coming back again