North - South Road
Two-lane blacktop in the night
Breeze across the plains
Are there parades of beacons
On the low hills of Mochudi
Or stars with blinking eyes
Marking the quiet graves
Of those who died so young and fine?
Be careful, little child
Listen to the cowbells low
As the white relief trucks pass
Step back to the thorn trees
For sleepers hold the wheel -
Stand back from the tarmac-side!
Are those the sounds of Kwela
From the bars of Mahalapye
Refugees and swallows
Asleep in Francistown?
Are those human echoes
From pitiless Zimbabwe?
Asks Motsumi from his solitary
Rondavel in Maun.
Kudu leap the ribbon
A soda-can procession
Lines the roadside
Glares in moonlight
Winks up to the satellite
The North road leads to Cairo
The South road to the Cape
So I hear returning travellers tell
I am just a builder
On the midnight shoulder
And I am standing very still
Still between the headlights passing
Cricket melody unceasing
Is that the Marula fruit
Raining from the trees?
Don't walk the narrow line, my child
Too far with burning feet
In case your life becomes condemned
And never finds its peace.
poem by Frank Bana
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Related quotes
Every Road Leads Me Back To You
Every road leads me back to you.
My destiny is mapped out
for every step I take
and every road I travel
leads me back to you.
Some are guided by the morning sun,
some by the moon and stars at night,
but every road I travel
leads me back to you.
Our home maybe far away
in the snow tipped mountaintops
or under the big city lights.
It does not matter where it lies,
every road I take the end will be the same,
for every road leads me back to you,
and you are there to shelter me
from any given storm.
You lead me away from temptations
that plague my life.
You are always there
when my foes I have to fight.
Each night when I am weary
tis, you I come to at night,
for every road I travel, Lord
always leads me back to you
for my faith to be renewed.
11 August 2008
poem by David Harris
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Choked
Trees above her, below her, to each side of her
Fog obstructing her view, where should she be?
She cannot tell what day it is any more than she can tell what time it is
Which way should she turn?
The fog swallows her feet
When she thinks she has found the right path, she sees an opening...
Then the fog swallows it
She has been misled again
...and again
......and again
She screams, she’s tired; she is choked by the fog, betrayed by the trees
Feels like she’s been here forever
Trees that don’t talk back anymore
No one is there to guide her
She is lost
The trees and fog are making her second guess every step she makes
Mocking her, humiliating her, laughing at her
At one time she thought they would lead her
Following each way the breeze decided to sway the trees
Going with the fog because where there is fog there is water
Water leads her to place she needs to be
If only the fog was not so thick
if only the trees would talk again
If....If....IF! !
If only she was not lost
The trees and the fog swallows her
Then spits her out when she is nothing more
Nothing is left
Besides a new start
God! Please help me!
poem by Ashley Joyce Forbus
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Psalm 11
If the foundations be destroyed
What can the righteous do
For broad is the road that leads to hell
And the narrow road finds the few
And the enemy says to my soul
Fly like a bird in the night
For look, the wicked bend their bow
Now its time for you to take flight
But I shall stand upon the Lord
In Him I shall put my trust
For His eyes are on the sons of men
For all shall return to dust
Fire and brimestone and a burning wind
Shall be their portion, their lot
But the child of God shall stand that day
For by His blood they were bought
poem by Frank McEleny
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Down By The Side Of The Road
Her father was a failure
Her mother was a comfort
To a doctor and lawyer and indian chief.
The shirt ran out of buttons
He lost all his marbles at a baseball game
And they went on relief.
The bank took away their diplomas
They locked them up inside of the chest
And she moved away to oklahoma
And got a tattoo on the side of her breast
God-damn, my socks are still hard
From lying on the sofa on the night she was over in my backyard
Yeah, we was shooting the breeze out amongst the trees
When a shot rang low
And left her standing down by the side of the road
Down by the side of the road
Father have mercy, whoo whoo
Get her a nurse please
Shes almost alone
I saw her hand reaching out for the telephone
We rather see her locked up inside a home
Than see her standing down by the side of the road
Down by the side of the road
Headlights flashing on her skirt in the wind.
Yonder comes a truck it drove by two men.
Shotgun man leaned out and said do you want to take a ride?
Out in the pale moonlight light. light light lie lie lie lie
Too long in the hot sun
She couldve be miss wisconsin a long time ago
Spent to much time inside of the early show
Wed bought her a ticket but she didnt want to go
She was standing down by the side of the road
Down by the side of the road
Headlights flashing, caught a skirt in the wind.
Yonder comes a truck it drove by two men.
Shotgun man leaned out and said do you want to take a ride?
Out in through the pale moonlight
Her father was a failure
Her mother was a comfort
To a doctor and lawyer and indian chief.
The shirt made out of buttons
He lost all his marbles at a baseball game
And they went on relief.
The bank took away their diplomas
They locked them up inside of the chest
And she moved away to oklahoma
And got a tattoo on the side of her breast
God-damn, my thoughts are still hard.
From lying on the sofa on the night she was overi n my backyard
Yeah, we was shooting the breeze out amongst the trees
When a shot rang low
And left her standing down by the side of the road
Down by the side of the road
Down by the side of the road
Down by the side of the road
song performed by by John Prine
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Seven Bridges Road
There are stars in the Southern sky
Southward as you go
There is moonlight and moss in the trees
Down the Seven Bridges Road
I have loved you like a baby
Like some lonesome child
I have loved you in a tame way
And I have loved you wild
Sometimes there is a part of me
Has to turn from here and go
Running like a child from these warm stars
Down the Seven Bridges Road
There are stars in the Southern sky
And if ever you decide you should go
There is a taste of time sweet as honey
Down the Seven Bridges Road
There are stars in the Southern sky
Southward as you go
There is moonlight and moss in the trees
Down the Seven Bridges Road
Down the Seven Bridges Road
song performed by by Dolly Parton
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Chocked
Trees above her, below her, to each side of her
Fog obstracting her view, where should she be?
She cannot tell what day it is anymore than she can tell what time it is
which way should she turn?
The fog swallows her feet
When she thinks she has found the right path, she sees an opening...
Then the fog shollows it
She has been mislead again
...and again
......and again
She screams, shes tired, she is choked by the fog, betrayed by the trees
Feels like shes been here forever
Trees that dont talk back anymore
No one is there to guide her
She is lost
The trees and fog are making her second guess every step she makes
mocking her, humilating her, laughing at her
At one time she thought they would lead her
Following each way the breeze decided to sway the trees
Going with the fog because where there is fog there is water
water leads her to place she needs to be
If only the fog was not so thick
if only the trees would talk again
If....If....IF! !
If only she was not lost
The trees and the fog swallows her
Then spits her out when she is nothing more
Nothing is left
Besides a new start
God! Please help me!
poem by Ashley Dowdy
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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The Fear
A lantern light from deeper in the barn
Shone on a man and woman in the door
And threw their lurching shadows on a house
Near by, all dark in every glossy window.
A horse's hoof pawed once the hollow floor,
And the back of the gig they stood beside
Moved in a little. The man grasped a wheel,
The woman spoke out sharply, 'Whoa, stand still!'
'I saw it just as plain as a white plate,'
She said, 'as the light on the dashboard ran
Along the bushes at the roadside-a man's face.
You must have seen it too.'
'I didn't see it.
Are you sure--'
'Yes, I'm sure!'
'-it was a face?'
'Joel, I'll have to look. I can't go in,
I can't, and leave a thing like that unsettled.
Doors locked and curtains drawn will make no difference.
I always have felt strange when we came home
To the dark house after so long an absence,
And the key rattled loudly into place
Seemed to warn someone to be getting out
At one door as we entered at another.
What if I'm right, and someone all the time-
Don't hold my arm!'
'I say it's someone passing.'
'You speak as if this were a travelled road.
You forget where we are. What is beyond
That he'd be going to or coming from
At such an hour of night, and on foot too.
What was he standing still for in the bushes?'
'It's not so very late-it's only dark.
There's more in it than you're inclined to say.
Did he look like--?'
'He looked like anyone.
I'll never rest to-night unless I know.
Give me the lantern.'
'You don't want the lantern.'
She pushed past him and got it for herself.
'You're not to come,' she said. 'This is my business.
If the time's come to face it, I'm the one
To put it the right way. He'd never dare-
Listen! He kicked a stone. Hear that, hear that!
He's coming towards us. Joel, go in-please.
Hark!-I don't hear him now. But please go in.'
'In the first place you can't make me believe it's--'
'It is-or someone else he's sent to watch.
And now's the time to have it out with him
While we know definitely where he is.
Let him get off and he'll be everywhere
Around us, looking out of trees and bushes
Till I sha'n't dare to set a foot outdoors.
And I can't stand it. Joel, let me go!'
'But it's nonsense to think he'd care enough.'
'You mean you couldn't understand his caring.
Oh, but you see he hadn't had enough-
Joel, I won't-I won't-I promise you.
We mustn't say hard things. You mustn't either.'
'I'll be the one, if anybody goes!
But you give him the advantage with this light.
What couldn't he do to us standing here!
And if to see was what he wanted, why
He has seen all there was to see and gone.'
He appeared to forget to keep his hold,
But advanced with her as she crossed the grass.
'What do you want?' she cried to all the dark.
She stretched up tall to overlook the light
That hung in both hands hot against her skirt.
'There's no one; so you're wrong,' he said.
'There is.-
What do you want?' she cried, and then herself
Was startled when an answer really came.
'Nothing.' It came from well along the road.
She reached a hand to Joel for support:
The smell of scorching woollen made her faint.
'What are you doing round this house at night?'
'Nothing.' A pause: there seemed no more to say.
And then the voice again: 'You seem afraid.
I saw by the way you whipped up the horse.
I'll just come forward in the lantern light
And let you see.'
'Yes, do.-Joel, go back!'
She stood her ground against the noisy steps
That came on, but her body rocked a little.
'You see,' the voice said.
'Oh.' She looked and looked.
'You don't see-I've a child here by the hand.'
'What's a child doing at this time of night--?'
'Out walking. Every child should have the memory
Of at least one long-after-bedtime walk.
What, son?'
'Then I should think you'd try to find
Somewhere to walk--'
'The highway as it happens-
We're stopping for the fortnight down at Dean's.'
'But if that's all-Joel-you realize-
You won't think anything. You understand?
You understand that we have to be careful.
This is a very, very lonely place.
Joel!' She spoke as if she couldn't turn.
The swinging lantern lengthened to the ground,
It touched, it struck it, clattered and went out.
poem by Robert Frost
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Sun C/79
Sun is the reason
And the world it will bloom
Cause sun lights the sky
And the sun lights the moon
Sun is the reason
All the happy trees are green
Then who can explain
The light in your dream
Sit you down
Sit you down young gentleman
Theres something I want you to know
You keep on asking me
You keep on asking me why
Why are we here?
It started a long time ago
Me and your mum on the night
Yeh yeh yeh ..we met
I was on the road again
She was in c79
Ill never never forget
Ill never forget that night no..
We met in a back road
Behind the stage
She had the best figure by far
Huh a thousand hours Ive looked at her eyes but i
Still dont know what color they are
Me & your mum on the night
Oh lord. we met
I was on the road again
She was in c79
She was a junkie then
And I was having a good time
Back on the road again
Oh momma I was on the road again
Back in suite 79
Ill never never forget
Ill never forget that time
Back on the road again
Oh Im travelling that line
I was a pop star then
Im still having a good time
song performed by by Cat Stevens
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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That Lonesome Road
Walk down that lonesome road all by yourself
Dont turn your head back over your shoulder
And only stop to rest yourself when the silver moon
Is shining high above the trees
If I had stopped to listen once or twice
If I had closed my mouth and opened my eyes
If I had cooled my head and warmed my heart
Id not be on this road tonight
Carry on
Never mind feeling sorry for yourself
It doesnt save you from your troubled mind
Walk down that lonesome road all by yourself
Dont turn your head back over your shoulder
And only stop to rest yourself when the silver moon
Is shining high above the trees
song performed by by James Taylor
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Seven Bridges Road
There are stars in the southern sky
Southward as you go
There is moonlight and moss in the trees
Down the seven bridges road
Now I have loved you like a baby
Like some lonesome child
And I have loved you in a tame way
And I have loved you wild
Sometimes there's a part of me
Likes to turn from here and go
Running like a child from these warm stars
Down the seven bridges road
There are stars in the southern sky
And if ever you decide you should go
There is a taste of time sweetened honey
Down the seven bridges road
song performed by by Eagles
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Seven Bridge Road
Alan Jackson & The Eagles
There are stars in the southern sky
Southward as you go
There is moonlight and moss in the trees
Down the seven bridges road.
--- Instrumental ---
Now, I have loved you like a baby
Like some lonesome child
And I have loved you in a tame way
And I have loved you wild.
Sometimes there's a part of me
Has to turn form here and go
Running like a child from these warm stars
Down the seven bridges road.
There are stars in the southern sky
And if ever you decide you should go
There is a taste of time sweetened honey
Down the seven bridges road...
song performed by by Alan Jackson
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A Little Past Little Rock
(jess brown/tony lane/brett jones)
I had to leave my life in dallas
That town will always be you
In every crowd, on every corner
In every face Id see you
So with nothin more than a tank of gas
I drove away without lookin back
And I guess thats how I got where I am
And goin anywhere as fast as I can
And Im a little past little rock
Further down the line
Too soon to know whats up ahead
Too late to change my mind
I gotta keep my heart out of this and both hands on the wheel
Im learnin more with every mile just how leavin feels
Its a lonely stretch of blacktop out into the blue
Dont know where Ill go or what Ill do
Im a little past little rock
But a long way from over you
These headlights on the highway
Disappear into the dark
And if I could have my way
Id go back to where you are
Oh, but I cant turn this thing around
And nothing short of breaking down
Is gonna get me off this road Im on
Oh, and Im still a far cry from gone
And Im a little past little rock
Further down the line
Too soon to know whats up ahead
Too late to change my mind
I gotta keep my heart out of this and both hands on the wheel
Im learnin more with every mile just how leavin feels
Its a lonely stretch of blacktop out into the blue
Dont know where Ill go or what Ill do
Im a little past little rock
But a long way from over you
song performed by by Lee Ann Womack
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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A lane in England
In autumn I walked in England
in a lane full of trees
where leaves lay auburn
on a road wet from rain.
Barren, stripped oak trees
were between other green ones
and it was as if I was going
right through a tunnel
with here and there trees
of which the leaves were more yellow.
In the distance the road bended to the right
where a bush fence
cut neatly square
and telephone poles
ran along the edge of the road
and the green moss banks
were covered with auburn leaves
at places
and on the other side
of the road
a shrub stretched out green and long
like a sausage
that was lying next to the road
and I would love
to have a lane like that
next to my driveway.
poem by Gert Strydom
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Drunk
Too far away, oh love, I know,
To save me from this haunted road,
Whose lofty roses break and blow
On a night-sky bent with a load
Of lights: each solitary rose,
Each arc-lamp golden does expose
Ghost beyond ghost of a blossom, shows
Night blenched with a thousand snows.
Of hawthorn and of lilac trees,
White lilac; shows discoloured night
Dripping with all the golden lees
Laburnum gives back to light.
And shows the red of hawthorn set
On high to the purple heaven of night,
Like flags in blenched blood newly wet,
Blood shed in the noiseless fight.
Of life for love and love for life,
Of hunger for a little food,
Of kissing, lost for want of a wife
Long ago, long ago wooed.
. . . . . .
Too far away you are, my love,
To steady my brain in this phantom show
That passes the nightly road above
And returns again below.
The enormous cliff of horse-chestnut trees
Has poised on each of its ledges
An erect small girl looking down at me;
White-night-gowned little chits I see,
And they peep at me over the edges
Of the leaves as though they would leap, should I call
Them down to my arms;
“But, child, you’re too small for me, too small
Your little charms.”
White little sheaves of night-gowned maids,
Some other will thresh you out!
And I see leaning from the shades
A lilac like a lady there, who braids
Her white mantilla about
Her face, and forward leans to catch the sight
Of a man’s face,
Gracefully sighing through the white
Flowery mantilla of lace.
And another lilac in purple veiled
Discreetly, all recklessly calls
In a low, shocking perfume, to know who has hailed
Her forth from the night: my strength has failed
In her voice, my weak heart falls:
Oh, and see the laburnum shimmering
Her draperies down,
As if she would slip the gold, and glimmering
White, stand naked of gown.
. . . . . .
The pageant of flowery trees above
The street pale-passionate goes,
And back again down the pavement, Love
In a lesser pageant flows.
Two and two are the folk that walk,
They pass in a half embrace
Of linkèd bodies, and they talk
With dark face leaning to face.
Come then, my love, come as you will
Along this haunted road,
Be whom you will, my darling, I shall
Keep with you the troth I trowed.
poem by David Herbert Lawrence
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Stand Back
(stevie nicks)
No one looks as I walk by
Just an invitation would have been just fine
Said no to her again, again and again
First she took my heart then she ran
No one knows just how I feel
What I say unless you read between the lines
One girl walked away from me
First she took my head and then she
Take me home.
Stand back, stand back
In the middle of my room
I did not hear from you
Its all right, its all right
Youll be standing in line
Youll be standing in line
I will cry
Do not turn away my friend
Like a river I can bend
No one calls out my name
And no one came
So I walked on down the line and waited for you
Maybe your protected from all that you do
One girl, did not call
She asked me for my love and that was all
Stand back, stand back
In the middle of my room
I did not hear from you
Its alright, its alright
Youll be standing in line
Youll be standing in line
I will cry
So I walked on down the line and waited for you
Maybe your attention was more than I could do
One girl, did not fall
She asked me for my love and that was all
Stand back, stand back
In the middle of my room
I did not hear from you
Its alright, its alright
Youll be standing in line
Youll be standing in line
I will cry
Gotta find a little sympathy ....
Try and ask me anything....
Gotta find a little sympaty....
Can I find a little sympathy.....
song performed by by Rod Stewart
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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The Green Roads
The green roads that end in the forest
Are strewn with white goose feathers this June,
Life marks left behind by someone gone to the forest
To show his track. But he has never come back.
Down each green road a cottage looks at the forest.
Round one the nettle towers; two are bathed in flowers.
An old man along the green road to the forest
Strays from one, from another a child alone.
In the thicket bordering the forest,
All day long a thrush twiddles his song.
It is old, but the trees are young in the forest,
All but one like a castle keep, in the middle deep.
That oak saw the ages pass in the forest:
They were a host, but their memories are lost,
For the tree is dead: all things forget the forest
Excepting perhaps me, when now I see
The old man, the child, the goose feathers at the edge of the forest,
And hear all day long the thrush repeat his song.
poem by Edward Thomas
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Seasons of Zimbabwe
The country newly-born, we were younger still
Jacaranda blossoms paved the stone under our feet
We drank the bittersweet coffee of the Chipinge hills
By the roadside in the glow of Independence
As we explored the central park's every hidden corner
The miniature Victoria Falls, the botanical treasures
And the open-air soapstone sculpture displays
You told me tipsy tales of Mzilikazi
We rode the flying bus down to the old Zimbabwe
And walked among the peaceful ruined walls
As peacocks strolled insoucient in the gardens
We climbed the fortress to view the rolling plains
The corn was white and tall the month we married
In an improvised bare office filled with laughter
Animals graced the hills above our reception
Music drifted to the border with Botswana
We made love in the wedding suite, high above the city
Embelished by the gentle blues of Cape China
With joy I entered you as your husband
And sunrise filled our window with its glory
Today we're not so young, Zimbabwe is much older
Its splendour is revisiting its ruins
In Namibia's childhood you were lost, your sweetness
Is held only by the warm earth of Mochudi now.
For we have all been claimed by our addictions
The richest topsoil worn down into powder
Dreams of liberation have been stolen
And seasons of young love are past their flower.
poem by Frank Bana
Submitted by Poetry Lover
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Ill Be Around
Words & music: michael w. smith and bob farrell
Hey boy - did you find out
Whatcha had to know - n what its all about
When you started to move - just a step at a time
You never wanted to fall
You took a chance on the wild side
Hey, girl - cantcha come down
Are ya way at the top - afraid of somethin you found
Then you try to go back - not as easy to do
Did you find who you are
From a dance on the wild side
I know sometimes its hard for you
To keep your feet upon the path that youve chosen
Its not for you to walk alone
Together we can take this road where its going - hang on
Chorus 1:
Stand by me - stand right here
The time has come to say it clear
Now dont give up - but dont give in
We will stand together to the end
And Ill be around - Ill be around, yeah
No joke - the sooner you find
It happens all the same - for every mothers child
When you walk in the dark - then you stumble and fall
Its a part of it all
When we dance on the wild side
But everybody needs someone
Who loves em through the toughest times - while theyre growing - yah
Who keeps a candle burning
When the darkness covers up the path where theyre going - hang on
Chorus 2:
Stand by me - stand right here
The time has come to say it clear
Now dont give up - dont give in
We will stand together to the end
And Ill be around - come what may
Heaven hears us when we pray
So dont give up - but dont give in
We will stand together to the end
I will be there, my good friend
And Ill be around
Be around, Ill be around...
Ill walk this road with you
Wherever it may wind
And Ill be around
Chorus 2
song performed by by Michael W. Smith
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Shadows And Tall Trees
Back to the cold restless streets at night
I talk to myself about tomorrow night
Walls of white protest
A gravestone in name
Who is it now
It's always the same
Who is it now
Who calls me inside
Are the leaves on the trees
Just living disguise
I walk sweet rain tragicomedy
I'll walk home again
to the street melody
But I know, oh no
But I know, oh no
But I know...
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows and tall trees
Shadows and tall trees
Life through a window
Discoloured pain
Mrs. Brown's washing is always the same
I walk street rain tragicomedy
I'll walk home again
to the street melody
But I know, oh no
But I know, oh no
But I know...
(Out there)
Do you feel in me...
Anything redeeming
Any worthwhile feeling
Is love like a tightrope
Hanging from the ceiling
But I know, oh no
But I know, oh no
But I know...
Shadows and Tall Trees
song performed by by U2
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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Open Road
I'm sitting at the wheel
I got a green light
Not afraid of nothin' cuz heart and soul
I'm built for life
So let the engine roar
Push the pedal down
I want the white lines on the highway
To lead me out of town
I'm rolling on and on and on
Who knows where I'm goin'?
Life is an open road - it's the best story never told
It's an endless sky - it's the deepest sea
Life is an open road to me
Life is an open road to me
I got headlights to guide me thru the night
I got the window down and the radio playing
It makes me feel alive
song performed by by Bryan Adams
Submitted by Lucian Velea
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