The skies were pure and the fields were green
  And the sun was brighter than it's ever been
  When I grew up with my best friend Kenny
  We were close as any brothers than you ever knew
    It was always summer and the future called
  We were ready for adventures and we wanted them all
  And there was so much left to dream and so much time to make it real
    But I can still recall the sting of all the tears when he was gone
  They said he crashed and burned
  I know I'll never learn why any boy should die so young
    We were racing, we were soldiers of fortune
  We got in trouble but we sure got around
  There are times I think I see him peeling out of the dark
  I think he's right behind me now and he's gaining ground
    Chorus:
  But it was long ago and it was far away, oh God it seems so very far
  And if life is just a highway, then the soul is just a car
  And objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are
  And objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are
  And objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are
  And objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are
    (Solo)
    And when the sun descended and the night arose
  I heard my father cursing everyone he knows
  He was dangerous and drunk and defeated
  And corroded by failure and envy and hate
    There were endless winters and the dreams would freeze
  Nowhere to hide and no leaves on the trees
  And my father's eyes were blank as he hit me again and again and again
    I know I still believe he'd never let me leave, I had to run away alone So
  many threats and fears, so many wasted years before my life became my own
    And though the nightmares should be over
  Some of the terrors are still intact
  I'll hear that ugly coarse and violent voice
  And then he grabs me from behind and then he pulls me back
    chorus
    (Solo)
    There was a beauty living on the edge of town
  And she always put the top up and the hammer down
  And she taught me everything I'll ever know
  About the mystery and the muscle of love
    The stars would glimmer and the moon would glow
  I'm in the back seat with my Julie like a Romeo
  And the signs along the highway all said, Caution! Kids At Play!
    Those were the rights of spring and we did everything
  There was salvation every night
  We got our dreams reborn and our upholstery torn
  But everything we tried was right
    She used her body just like a bandage, she used my body just like a wound
  I'll probably never know where she disappeared But I can see her rising up
  out of the back seat now Just like an angel rising up from a tomb
    chorus
    And objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are
  (repeats 6x)
    And objects in the rear view mirror may appear closer than they are
  (repeats 6x)
    She used her body just like a bandage, she used my body just like a wound
  I'll probably never know where she disappeared But I can see her rising up
  out of the back seat now