He saw the lightning flash across the bright blue sky

Saw the rain creep across the road

Well he stopped and said that's the devil beatin' his wife

Or some old tale the old folks told.

It's a five mile walk between here and uptown

On a road lined with sugarcane

They won't notice if he goes anywhere

Here lately it's like they've forgotten his name

He just can't forget the way.

The days seemed so much brighter

And the breeze could blow the troubles away

You could see angels dancing in the flame

This old place seemed so much bigger

Now he sees it all a different way

Nothing's really changed

But it ain't the same.

He's been back from overseas about thirty days

He returned standing proud and true

Yeah, the new is worn off his welcome home

Like the heat burnin' off the dew.

Empty bottles that mean the bills ain't gettin' paid

Same holes knocked in the walls

Mama don't fight back like in her younger days

Goin' over the edge, well it's a hell of a fall

Can't he just go back a page.

Yeah, the days seemed so much brighter

And the breeze could blow the troubles away

You could see angels dancing in the flame

This old place seemed so much bigger

Now he sees it all a different way

Nothing's really changed

But it ain't the same.

He don't know where he's headed for

But the buses run right on time

Anywhere's better than staying here

With the ghosts running through his mind.

The things that he's seen and done

Are so much for any mother's son

To live down or try to run away from

Can't he run.

Yeah, the days seemed so much brighter

And the breeze could blow the troubles away

You could see angels dancing in the flame

This old place seemed so much bigger

Now he sees it all a different way

Nothing's really changed

It just ain't the same.