[Verse 1]
You broke out of your pen, said, "Amen"
You can't go home again if it's never been
You just kept playing your song and then
You played it even louder even when they said, "When!"
You got a tattoo, you didn't think it through
Now you're getting gone to go be somebody new
Two less shoulders to bump into
Letting loose while truth settles in

Well, for sixteen years your ma n' papa told you
“Don't you know someday you got to put it all down,”
But you just didn't listen, you just couldn't listen
You just kept a-wishin' and look at you now
Well, you're out there prowling like a moondog howling
At the night eye full and round
And everybody told me that you'd always be a-runnin'
And you'll never settle down

[Verse 2]
You got plenty of steam, just running outta green
Got enough for cheap beer and gasoline
Mama told you, “Don't you let ‘em make you mean!”
But you're harder than the hinges of eternity it seems
You put some new lines on your old face
Trying to fix an old heart with a new place
Fat on freedom where most got a taste
Now there's no case for getting lean

Now for twenty-two years, your ma n' papa told you
“Don't you know someday you got to put it all down,”
But you just didn't listen, you just couldn't listen
You just kept a-wishin' and look at you now
Well, you're out there prowling like a moondog howling
At the night eye full and round
And everybody told me that you'd always be a-runnin'
And you'll never settle down

[Verse 3]
Well, it's that old fire you never could kill
Now you're stuck between low and lower still
Just a specter sent your spine to chill
An old ghost floating like wind under your sill
Oh, but those old tunes, they still feel new
Enough to kick up a little dust to
There ain't no sense in saving you
You're gonna do just what you will

Now for thirty-four years your ma n' papa told you
“Don't you know someday you got to put it all down,”
But you just didn't listen, you just couldn't listen
You just kept a-wishin' and look at you now
Well, you're out there prowling like a moondog howling
At the night eye full and round
And everybody told me that you'd always be a-runnin'
And you'll never settle down