In '59 I was born in a shotgun shack That leaned against a railroad track I could hear the whistle blow All the way to Del Rio I was turning seventeen When I packed up my hopes and dreams Loaded my old beat up car Turned the key and burned the tar I burned that highway down in '59 Yes I burned that two-laned highway down in 1959 I never did look back I did not see that railroad track But I burned that highway down in '59 Winter came in sixty-five I fought the cold to stay alive And when I tried to light a fire I was burned by my desire There I was at twenty-four Faded dreams and nothin' more So I hit the road again Oh that road its back my friends I burned that highway down in '69 Yes I burned that four-lane highway down in 1969 I never do look back I don't see that railroad track Burned that highway down in '69 The seventies were kind to me I was young and I was free Had it all and then some more I could walk through running doors Then a star at eighty-three Caught me too far out to sea I hit a reef and I ran aground On the streets of Guitar Town I burned that highway down in '89 Yes I burned that four-lane highway down in 1989 And I never did look back I could not see those railroad tracks Burned that highway down in '89 I can hear my momma pray Prayin' for a better day I can hear my Daddy say Honey I will find a way He worked his fingers to the bone To make that shotgun shack a home He kept his sadness deep inside He had that dream the day he died I burned that highway down in '59 Burned that dirt road highway down in 1959 I never will look back when I don't see that railroad track I burned that highway down in '59 So now keep my soul to the Hotel California I get lost to the Mason Dixon Line I have run there with a lady East of Eden And I burned that highyway down in '89 Yes I burned that highway down in '89 I have run there with a lady East of Eden I burned that highyway down in '89 Yes I burned that highway down in '89