[Verse 1:]
It was just as I was leavin', throw some change up on the bar
She caught my eye through the swingin' door, she was standin' out by my car
I said, "I thought you moved to the city girl"
"No, I never did find the time"
I been wastin' away at my sister’s place just north of the county line

[Chorus:]
Well I gazed out across the gravel lot to the road that leads to town
Thinkin' all the ways that I broke your heart, yeah, thinkin' how it all went down
And I said it’s a strange thing to see you now
I been runnin' so long on the same old ground
Gonna rattle these chains till the mornin' light
If I ever loved once, you know I never loved right by you

[Verse 2:]
So we go up to the turnpike where the whole world turns to sky
I took her hand, but she drew away like a bird gettin' ready to fly
She said I ain’t so young, and I met someone, he’s a rock that just won’t roll
And I gotta find out if you only love once, or does love keep comin' to call

[Chorus:]
'Cause it’s a strange thing to see you now
I been runnin' so long on the same old ground
Gonna rattle these chains till the mornin' light
If I ever loved once, you know I never loved right by you

[Verse 3:]
There’s a half built house in the potter’s field, all the timbers are turned to gray
There’s an old brown dog livin' on the porch, I seen them just the other day
Well I lain those planks and I drove those nails, but it never did satisfy
That a man must forfeit all he owns for a glimpse at the reason why

[Chorus:]
Yeah it’s a strange thing to see you now
I been runnin' so long on the same old ground
Gonna these chains till the mornin' light
If I ever loved once, you know I never loved right

And it’s a strange thing to see you here
If the world has gone blind, yeah you better let it in
Gonna rattle these chains till the mornin' light
If I ever loved once, you know I never loved right by you