i got 2 little kids
in a broke down car
on the side of the road
in view of the Texaco star
i spent all on my money
on water and food
got willie on the radio
singing those
country blues

well i had a good job
down in New Orleans
once i was a citizen
now i'm a refugee
i can't go back
can't move ahead
tried to make a call
but i can't 'cause
my god damned
cellphone's dead

chorus
i'm just
5 minutes from America
i see it very clear
i'm just
5 minutes from America
but you can't get
there from here

i kept up with the jones'
wherever they are
i had some real nice neighbors
had me a big back yard
now i'm watching the world
pass me by
like i'm an immigrant on the move
saw the roof of my house on the tv
sitting in my motel room

back down the road a policeman
smiled then he offered his hand
he said welcome stranger
but you really
can't stay here man
on up ahead
there's some opportunities
you can find'em everywhere
maybe go to Houston,
there's a lot of you there

willie sang blues eyes
crying in the rain
out in luchenbach Texas
they ain't feeling no pain
but in the back of my head
the waves still pound
when the levee broke
the music stopped
and the world was watching
as hell came down