I hit the road in a '52 Ford
A pack of matches and a postcard on the dashboard
The sun was set, the gas gauge was low
And it was time to go

I met the girl at a juke joint on the fly
Needed a friend the day my mother died
Her place was hot and it smelled of sin
I guess when one life goes, another begins

Hey now, what you gonna do?
Got a fiver in your pocket
And a switchblade in your boot
Hey now, what you gonna say
To make it go away?

I found the city by the mark on the stamp
Studied it under the light of a hotel lamp
I found his work, I found their home
I waited until I knew she was alone

I didn't want the child to see life
I justified and it wounded my pride
My mind was set that no one could know
The girl had to go
Hey now, what you gonna do?
Got a fiver in your pocket
And a switchblade in your boot
Hey now, what you gonna say
To make it go away?

Hey now, what you gonna do?
Got a fiver in your pocket
And a switchblade in your boot
Hey now, what you gonna say
To make it go away?

Light stumbled in through a crack in the shades
Reflected off of the edge of my blade
As I reached for the girl with the knife in my hand
I thought, I guess the kid deserves a chance

Her man came in as I started to go
My last intentions, how could he know?
The blade sunk deep into my skin
I guess when one life goes, another begins