Track 5 of the album Diesel Hymns · 2008
Borrowed Boots
“Before the truck I was a kid with a thumb out and one good pair of boots. This one's about being young and broke and sure the next town would fix it.”
americana · roots rock · storyteller · 4:22
Lyrics
Got a thumb out at the county line Sun going down like a copper dime Wearing my brother's boots, a size too wide Stuffed the toes with newspaper, walking with his stride He bought them for a trip he never made Left them by the door where the dust was laid Mama said take them, son, go see the sky I laced them up and never said goodbye Every mile a little softer Every mile a little more mine These are borrowed boots on a borrowed road Carrying a weight that I never was told He's in every step, he's in every stone I'm walking for two, but I'm not walking alone Borrowed boots, borrowed boots Taking me home the long way through A trucker slowed down by a cattle gate Said where you headed, kid, it's getting late I said I'm going where my brother would've gone He tipped his hat and he drove me on Truck stop coffee at a quarter to ten The waitress says you look like somebody's friend I looked down at the scuffs on the leather and the seams And I laughed out loud for the first time in a year, it seems Every mile a little softer Every mile a little more mine These are borrowed boots on a borrowed road Carrying a weight that I never was told He's in every step, he's in every stone I'm walking for two, but I'm not walking alone Borrowed boots, borrowed boots Taking me home the long way through Maybe the road was never mine to lose Maybe I was just keeping his shoes warm Till I grew into the man he thought I'd be Till the boots fit me These are borrowed boots on a borrowed road Carrying a weight that I never was told He's in every step, he's in every stone I'm walking for two, but I'm not walking alone Borrowed boots, borrowed boots Now they fit just right, and I'm walking on Walking on, walking on Brother, I'm walking on