THE STORY:
Uncle Joe was amazing. He collected stamps. He was a chess wizard. He was a certified genius. I knew he was dying but I didn’t call him. Then he died. A year passed before I allowed acknowledgement that my family was nearly dissolved. I found Uncle Joe’s number. I dialed. I heard three tones and a mechanical voice. This number was no longer in service. And so began the mourning… That’s one story in the tapestry of this song. All that felt certain was the necessity for forward movement.
THE LYRICS:
You tried to tell me what I should say
How I could act to get life intact
You’re trying to be helpful but you didn’t know
Nothing about my life
We’ve all been victims of crazy times
I’m not trying to discredit your stories with
mine
I’m no broken rag doll
Here is the last 12 months of my life.
First of all my uncle just died
And it’s weighing heavy on my mind
He worked so hard - still he died helpless
Got a list of numbers and his number’s there
Took a pre-recorded voice to prove I’ll never
share
Laughing in his car again
Man life is short don’t drag your heels
You gotta keep rolling on.
Cute Erin - she always gets the guys
I couldn’t cope at rock bottom, I broke the ties
Here’s two different versions of lonely
There’s hookers, desperation, and dollar bills
Trying self-retribution over cheap thrills
It’s Christmas time
When the sum of the parts feels close to zero
You gotta keep rolling on
Life in four states trying to escape
The thrill of the things that bind me
New friends, new jobs, new cars
The troubles always seemed to find me
Now i’m looking for a Jesus in the air.
Less than 12 to twenty seven and I think I can
Make my future shine again
Man life is short you gotta burn those wheels
You gotta keep rolling on!