Track 1 of the album Vacancy Sign · 2011
Gravel Shoulder Lullaby
“I pulled over on Highway 99 one night too tired to drive and wrote this with the hazards ticking. It felt right to open the record on a hush.”
americana · front-porch folk · hushed americana · 4:31
Lyrics
Pulled over on the gravel shoulder Hazards ticking like a clock Two hundred miles of dark behind us Little sister's boots still on Radio is down to static I just let it hum along Hold her blanket to her shoulder Sing her the only song I know Sleep now, the road is holding Sleep now, the stars are out I'll keep both hands on the wheel, love Till the morning finds us home Sleep now, the miles are patient Sleep now, the engine's warm Nothing out here but the crickets And a light up ahead by the barn Dad said never stop for nothing Out here past the county line But a body needs to breathe sometimes And a heart needs time to unwind A truck goes by and shakes the window Throws a long light down the seat She stirs and then she settles Dreaming of a porch and the creek Sleep now, the road is holding Sleep now, the stars are out I'll keep both hands on the wheel, love Till the morning finds us home Sleep now, the miles are patient Sleep now, the engine's warm Nothing out here but the crickets And a light up ahead by the barn I was scared when we left that driveway Scared of what I couldn't pay But the dashboard glow is steady And the dark has been kind today Gray along the eastern fence line Coffee cold inside the cup I turn the key and the engine answers Time to pick the road back up Sleep now, the road is holding Sleep now, the stars are out I'll keep both hands on the wheel, love Till the morning finds us home Sleep now, the miles are patient Sleep now, the engine's warm Nothing out here but the crickets And a light up ahead by the barn Sleep now, sleep now Morning's coming slow