Tobacco clouds drifted across the sun
Waited for clouds to come
Hanging out at the beach
Hit repeat there’s never nothing new
Like a movie preview
For a life that was still out of reach
I had my hair combed just right
Under the spotlight
Full of big time dreams
Knew nothing ever happened here
Folks disappear
Wanted to get away clean

But my town was mean
At 19 it could chew you up and spit you out
Only got one shot
Or you went without

Out of school found ourselves out of work
On stage in thrift store shirts
Felt like our best days had gone
Opportunities don’t ever appear
You could be Hendrix here
No one would notice your songs
So I told my band we’re packing up
We’re gonna try our luck
Not stop ‘til our ambitions come true
You hear the city call
We’re gonna do it all
Ain’t got nothing to lose

Drove out to the speedway track
Ghosts of engines they shut off the lights
Just fade away
Or burn out so bright

So long baby
Give you my best regards
Thrown and missed so here’s a goodbye kiss
I’ve laid my bets, I’ve showing you all my cards
Come morning I’ll be nothing but a vanishing cloud on the boulevard
I’ll have rolled the dice, I’ll be out of sight on the boulevard

You always told me that I never talked right wasn’t too clever
But tonight I’m gonna take that ride across the river
There’s a million reasons why I’ll end up a failure
At least I’ll burn out, not fade away like if I stay here
We’ve all questions but if we don’t take chances
We’ll be long dead honey before we get the answers
Hey mama look at me - a thief won’t break your heart
But they’ll treat you like the guys who rule the record charts
Oh yeah

Take a look at me now
But you’ve already know
You made up your mind
I should turn on a dime
You’re gonna say you hate to say you told you so but when I go just
Wait ‘til the night comes down
I’m gonna hit the town
You’re working 9 to 5 and I’ll be coming back to life

Hit the city, I found out where it’s at
Inside a cold water loft above a laundromat
On one meal a day never no money in my pocket
I guess living like that is about how much you want it
But the gigs - oh man, we used to touch the sky
College dropouts just learning to fly
It’s a long shot, but it’s all I ever got
So stay true, not gonna stop, so here’s looking at you
And won’t you

Take a look at me now
But you’ve already know
It’s never enough
The wheels have come off
You’re gonna say you hate to say you told you so but when I go just
Wait ‘til the night comes down
I’m gonna rule the town
You’re working 9 to 5 and I’ll be coming back to life

Oh I’ve seen them
They’ve still got their tuxedos pressed
But they don’t need ‘em
Clubs downtown are like the Marie Celeste
That’s the - that’s the thing about dreams
They just chew you up all the time
Cigarettes and amphetamines
Until you find

You’re with the drunks and the hookers
And the pimps and the pushers
And one night was all it took us
To make up our mind

Oh I’ve seen them
Who came here looking for the Rolling Stones
Wound up pawning guitars
And never even made it home
But you carry a piece of home round with you
Guess they never really understand
You’ll never be alone in a Rock and Roll band
Fall in love and find

You’re with the drunks and the hookers
And the pimps and the pushers
And one night was all it took us
To make up our mind

So long baby
Give you my best regards
Thrown and missed so here’s a goodbye kiss
I’ve laid my bets, I’ve showing you all my cards
Come morning I’ll be nothing but a vanishing cloud on the boulevard
I’ll have rolled the dice, I’ll be out of sight on the boulevard