More Than One Road — Lyrics

Some men follow signs, some men make their own road
I never learned to walk in line, never moved because they said
When the whole room pointed one way, I listened to myself instead
I fought my way through every ceiling, built two dreams with my own hands
From the ground up to the skyline, 44 floors above the land
I had a life that looked near perfect, money moving doors swung wide
Then one woman pulled one thread and watched my whole world come untied
It's funny how a life takes years to build and one hard night to fall

But the man beneath the broken fence was the strongest part of all
And few will ever know how hard I fight, how many times I've used the dark before I found the light
One more walk, one more hill, one more reason not to fold

When the road shuts down in front of me, I find another road
Like the sun, I rise each morning even when my heart feels cold
I wasn't born to follow footsteps, I was born to make a road

Then my mother fought in silence, two long years she hid the truth
Lung cancer tried to take her fire but she stood like a lioness would do
Never asked a word for pity, never let her see her fear
She carried death upon her shoulders and still smiled when we came near
Two grown children in that hospital turned to babies when she left, cryin' like the world had ended
Tryin' hard to catch our breath, now the empty chair keeps talkin'
And the silence knows her name, some days tears fall without warning, some days breathin' feels like pain
But she taught me strength ain't makin' noise, it's standin' when you're torn

So I meet the sun each mornin', like another chance is born
If you will ever know how hard I fight, how many times I lose the dark before I find the light
One more wall, one more hill, one more reason not to fall

When the road shuts down in front of me, I find another road
Like the sun, I rise each morning even when my heart feels cold
I wasn't born to follow footsteps, I was born to make a road

I gave partners more than business, gave my friends more than they earned
Some took everything I offered, gave me nothin' in return
I watched trust become a weapon, watched good hands become a fist
Everybody wants to take in very few, give back a bit, but I can feel it in my fingers
I was born to reach the height, not just rich enough to have it, rich enough to do it right
There are shortcuts made of money, there are roads that cost your soul
So I chose the slower highway, cause sometimes slow gets there before
Rad car windows open, city traffic standing still

I turn the tires toward the dirt and let the engine climb the hill like a driver leaving pavement
When the main road disappears, I remind myself of destination
Never promised one way there
Success and failure share a table
They've been drinking side by side, one will teach you how to win, one will teach you how to rise
And this whole life is just a game, but I didn't come to play small
I came to leave more than I borrowed, I came to give more than it cost
And few will ever know how hard I fight, how many times I break a loan, then walk back toward the line

One more war, one more hill, one more story left untold
When the whole world blocks the way ahead, I find another road
Like the sun I rise each morning, even when the night's so cold

I wasn't born to follow footsteps, I was born to make a road
No, I won't trade the right direction for the easy kind of gold
I may take a little longer, but I'll get there with my soul
Life is hard, but life is beautiful
Keep the good line from the bad and smile while you still can
We don't get forever, we all reach the same last station
So roll the windows down and enjoy the road