I drove in on the four lane where the two lane used to be
The highway hummed a near forgotten tune from 1963
The year I turned 18 and set my sights and heard the highway call
Now the highway's come full circle to a place I scarce recall

There's a girl I still remember whose name I can't recall
I gave her what I had, but then she tried to take it all
I stayed long enough to lover her and then left her on the run, like a flower left to wither in that deep east Texas sun

There's a place out on the highway, where i go to spend my time
Where the bartenders all know me, and the players are friends of mine
Then we light up on the breaks and talk of things that we all know
But i've heard it all before...
And i'll hear it all again...
And i've heard it said; the highway never ends

So what about old "Handsome Johnny" and the class of '64?
Did the women all make promises when they shipped him off to war?
Did his Momma get the medal, and did his country ever win?
Well let's drink a round for Johnny 'cause he died for all our sins

They're still down there in the factories; you can see them in the mills
They've sweated there for years, Lord, I guess they always will
And you know they won't be leavin'; I can't watch them die that way
So in my rear view mirror I always watch 'em slip away