I now know why you drove
on those dark winding roads.

the fear kicks in, your troubles
disappear and the only focus
is staying in between two yellow lines;
perfectly parallel
like you and I.

you got a fast car
i want a ticket to anywhere
maybe we can make a deal
maybe together
we can get somewhere
anyplace is better
starting from zero
got nothing to lose
maybe we'll make somethin
me myself i got nothin to prove

i've been wondering
when it stops
people say it stops
when you want it to
but how do i tell that
to my dreams
when all i can think about
is running up to kiss you
in the parking lot of anywhere
it makes me wanna drink
and say everything
like sometimes i think about
what it would've been like
if i had let you go
when i
was still strong enough to do it
like i never knew hell
had such a pretty voice
like i tried to make it all day
without saying
"wish you were here"
like lately i've been going back
to all the places we've been
to see what it's like without you
it is the worst game
of hide & seek
every time i close my eyes
to count
you just go home
i seem to only wear my seat belt
on days you call
on days you're all *never been better
and i just wanna tell you
how much I hate window shopping
and daylight goodbyes
you just sit there
when you could say anything
you could tell me
you noticed i started drinking again
you could even make it up
you could say you miss me, too
you could say
you missed me so much
that the other day
you accidentally bought
two coffees instead of one
you could tell me
how you've been
without me
that you sleep so much better
these days
without having to worry
you can say what you have
to just don't say leaving
was like shooting fish in a barrel
cause i swear i'm nostalgic
for things i pretended were real
and i swear
i don't want a seance
until there's something
worth bringing back
take me back
to all the places i tried to love you
back to a time
where i knew my name  
without you having to say it

*you got a fast car
is it fast enough
so we can fly away
you gotta make a decision
leave tonight
or live & this way

Every night the red door is there to greet you.
In the summer, you sneak into your house a half hour past curfew.
summer nights are long, and filled with memories.
You stay out late, in hopes that it will never end.

In the summer, you sneak into your house a half hour past curfew.
late night walks, sweet kisses, and stargazing;
You stay out late in hopes it will never end.
Autumn is approaching.

Late night walks, sweet kisses, and stargazing?
its not the same anymore.
autumn is approaching.
The leaves are changing, and so are your emotions.

It’s not the same anymore.
Autumn is busy, and friends all disperse.
The leaves are changing, and so are your emotions.
Every night the red door is there to greet you, but now its different.

Autumn is busy, and friends disperse.
You miss the way things used to be.
Every night the red door is there to greet you, but now its different.
Life is moving too fast for you to think clear.

You miss the ways things used to be.
Autumn breezes turn into winter frosts.
Life is moving too fast for you to think clear.
So much has happened in the course of a year.

Autumn breezes turn into winter frosts.
You turn the key to open the red door, thinking as always.
So much has happened in the course of a year.
The door has always let you back in, but life outside has never stayed the same.

You turn the key to open the door, thinking as always.
its now the end of the year, you think of how the door was a constant for every night.
The door has always let you back in, but life outside has never stayed the same.
life will give you a hard time, but theres always a place where the door won't slam.

you are the reason I'm okay with
this god forsaken state.
if I left, I would leave you behind.
I cursed this town before your name was a part of my world.
you make it okay to stay.
you are my Chicago.
some love the skyscrapers
and the sunsets on the beach
or the streets that curve and illuminate the whole town.
that is their chicago.
but you are mine.
your eyes and smile are the skyscrapers in my heart
and your laugh is engulfing
like the lake.
you'll be my Chicago--
the one I will be homesick for because when I think of home,
I think of you.