He saw the lightening flash across the bright blue sky
Saw the rain creep across the road
Well he stopped and said that´s the Devil beating his wife

Some old tale the old folks told
It´s a five mile walk between here and uptown
On a road lined with sugarcane
They won´t notice if he goes anywhere
Here lately it´s like they´ve forgotten his name
He just can´t forget the way

That the days seem so much brighter
And the breeze could blow the troubles away
You could see angels dancin´ in the flame
This old place seems so much bigger
Now he sees it all a different way
Nothin´s really changed but it ain´t the same

He´s been back from overseas about thirty days
He returns standin´ proud and true
Yeah the new´s worn off of his welcome home
Like the heat burnin´ off the dew

Empty bottles that mean the bills ain´t gettin´ paid
Same holes knocked in the walls
Mama don´t fight back like in her younger days
Going over the edge well it´s a hell of a fall
Can he just go back a page?

Yeah  the days seem so much brighter
And the breeze could blow the troubles away
You could see angels dancin´ in the flame
This old place seems so much bigger
Now he sees it all a different way
Nothin´s really changed but it ain´t the same

He don´t know what he´s headed for
But the buses run right on time
Anywhere´s better than stayin´ here
With the ghosts runnin´ through his mind

Things that he´s seen and done
Are so much for any mother´s son
To [let?] down or try to run away from
Can he run?

Yeah  the days seem so much brighter
And the breeze could blow your troubles away
You could see angels dancin´ in the flame
This old place seems so much bigger
Now he sees it all a different way
Nothin´s really changed it just ain´t the same