Josie works the counter at the downtown five and dime

Anything at all to help her pass the time

Her mama keeps the baby and grandpa rambles on

About the good times playing in his mind



It’s a hard life livin’ when you’re lonely

It’s a long night sleepin’ alone

It’s a hard time waitin’ for tomorrow

It’s a long, long way home



Josie spends the evening with the people "on" the pages

Of the paperback she picked up "at" the store

Or sometimes it’s the TV or she’ll try to write a letter

But they don’t come too often anymore



It’s a hard life livin’ when you’re lonely

It’s a long night sleepin’ alone

It’s a hard time waitin’ for tomorrow

It’s a long, long way home



I stare at the gray walls before me

And I see her face in the stone

I try to imagine our baby

I wish they would let me go home

I wish they would let me go home

I wish they would let me go home



It’s a hard life livin’ when you’re lonely

I wish they would let me go home

It’s a long night sleepin’ alone

I wish they would let me go home

It’s a hard time waitin’ for tomorrow

I wish they would let me go home

It’s a long, long way home

I wish they would let me go home

It’s a long, long way home

I wish they would let me go home

Bring me and the other boys home

I wish they would let me go home

Bring me and the other boys home