Story Behind The Song

I was just imagining what I might say if I were older and had a son who'd ran away.

Song Description

It's a letter from a father to his prodigal son, asking him to come home.

Lyrics

Verse 1:
Where did you go, my son?
We heard you're two years gone.
Washed up in drink one night, lost all your things outside of Birmingham
Couldn't pay your way back home.
Lost your mind on smokes and wine,
Put your nose in deep in the thistles and the briars with the whiskey and the liars and the girls with their hands in your...pockets

Chorus 1:
So go to bed, my baby
Dream yourself more close to home
Then find out when the next train's at
Pawn your wallet and your watch and your dimestore hat
And I'll be waiting every night to see your train come up the track
So I can get my baby back

Verse 2:
Your momma drinks all night since her baby's gone away
The pastor prays for you but gives sermons on delinquency
And all night it seems you stay in my dreams playing poker and smoking cigarettes
I bet you don't see it ain't been so long since I put you in your bassinet

Chorus 2:
So come back home now, crazy
Where you ain't been in far too long
The floor where you first learned to step
And spent summer shooting cans in your coonskin cap
And so I'm writing you this letter from a tent down by the tracks
I want to get my baby back

Bridge:
They say life on the road brings women and gold
But don't buy when they're selling you that
You see, a life on the road can put you in a home
Unable to wipe your own face

Chorus 1 repeat