I know they say you cant go home again.
I just had to come back one last time.
Ma'am I know you don't know me from Adam.
But these handprints on the front steps are mine.
And up those stairs, in that little back bedroom
is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar.
And I bet you didn't know under that live oak
my favorite dog is buried in the yard.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself
if I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

Mama cut out pictures of houses for years.
From 'Better Homes and Garden' magazines.
Plans were drawn, concrete poured,
and nail by nail and board by board
Daddy gave life to mama's dream.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

You leave home, you move on and you do the best you can.
I got lost in this whole world and forgot who I am.

I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
this brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here its like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself.
If I could walk around I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
from the house that built me.

I'M WALKING IN THEIR FOOTSTEPS
I'M SINGING THEIR OLD SONGS
SOMEBODY BLAZED THIS TRAIL
I'M TREADIN' ON
I'M BENT, BUT I'M NOT BROKEN
I'M STRONGER THAN I FEEL
I'M MADE OF FLESH AND BONE
NOT MADE OF STEEL
I'M THE KEEPER OF THE FLAME
THE TELLER OF THE STORY
KEEPER OF THE FLAME
FOR THE ONES THAT CAME BEFORE ME
FOR THE LITTLE PILOT LIGHTS WAITING TO IGNITE
LIKE FIREFLIES IN THE RAIN
KEEPER OF THE FLAME
I'VE BEEN BURNED OUT TO ASHES
WAITING FOR A WIND
TO CARRY ME AND START A FIRE AGAIN
SOMETIMES I'M JUST A FLICKER
A CANDLE IN YOUR EYE
BUT I SWEAR TO GOD
I'LL NEVER LET IT DIE
I'M THE KEEPER OF THE FLAME
THE TELLER OF THE STORY
KEEPER OF THE FLAME
FOR THE ONES THAT CAME BEFORE ME
FOR THE LITTLE PILOT LIGHTS WAITING TO IGNITE
LIKE FIREFLIES IN THE RAIN
KEEPER OF THE FLAME
WHEN I'M DROWNING
WHEN I'M FIGHTING
WHEN I'M SCREAMING
WHEN I'M HIDING
WHEN I'M LOSING
WHEN I'M WINNING
I GO BACK TO
THE BEGINNING
KEEPER OF THE FLAME
THE TELLER OF THE STORY
KEEPER OF THE FLAME
I'M NOT DOING IT FOR THE GLORY
BUT FOR THOSE LITTLE PILOT LIGHTS WAITING TO IGNITE
LIKE FIREFLIES IN THE RAIN
KEEPER OF THE FLAME
I'M THE KEEPER OF THE FLAME
OOH, OOH
I'M THE KEEPER OF THE FLAME
OOH, OOH

ILSA WAS AN ACROBAT WHO WENT AND FELL IN LOVE WITH THAT
HORATIO THE HUMAN CANNONBALL
A WEDDING 'NEATH THE BIG TOP TENT WITH BARKERS CLOWNS AND ELEPHANTS
SIDESHOW FAMILY ODDITIES AND ALL
THE DOG-FACED BOY HOWLED OUT WITH JOY
AS THE TATTOOED LADY WAS CRYING
EVER SINCE THE BEGINNING TO KEEP THE WORLD SPINNING
IT TAKES ALL KINDS OF KINDS
THOMAS WAS A CONGRESSMAN WITH CLOSETS FULL OF SKELETONS
AND DRESSES THAT HE WORE ON FRIDAY NIGHTS
PHYLLIS WAS A PHARMACIST, A DAB OF THAT, A PINCH OF THIS
CONCOCTED TO SUPPRESS HER APPETITE
WHEN THE CHILDREN WERE FIDDLIN' SHE'D SLIP 'EM SOME RITALIN
AND WAIT FOR THOMASINA TO ARRIVE
CAUSE EVER SINCE THE BEGINNING TO KEEP THE WORLD SPINNING
IT TAKES ALL KINDS OF KINDS, ALL KINDS OF KINDS
WHEN I PLAY THIS OLD GUITAR FROM CHILDREN'S SHOWS TO SMOKY BARS
I TAKE A BREAK AND THINK ABOUT THE PAST
WHEN I STOOD UP IN GEOMETRY AND EVERYBODY STARED AT ME
AND I TOSSED MY TEST INTO THE TRASH
I SCRATCHED OFF MY NUMBER WHILE HITCHING OUT UNDER
THAT BUSH LEAGUE POPULATION SIGN
EVER SINCE THE BEGINNING TO KEEP THE WORLD SPINNING
IT TAKES ALL KINDS OF KINDS
NOW SOME POINT THE FINGER, LET IGNORANCE LINGER
IF THEY'D LOOK IN THE MIRROR THEY'D FIND
THAT EVER SINCE THE BEGINNING TO KEEP THE WORLD SPINNING
IT TAKES ALL KINDS OF KINDS
ALL KINDS OF KINDS
ALL KINDS OF KINDS

YOU ONLY LOVE ME FOR MY BIG SUN GLASSES
AND MY TONY LOMAS
AND MY DODGE DART CLASSIC
YOU SAID I'LL BE JOHHNY AND YOU BE JUNE
AND I'LL RIDE WITH YOU TO THE MOON
BUT GUESS WHAT?
YOU CAN'T RIDE IN MY LITTLE RED WAGON
THE FRONT SEAT'S BROKEN AND THE AXEL'S DRAGIN'
YOU CAN'T STEP TO THIS BACKYARD SWAGGER
YOU KNOW IT AIN'T MY FAULT WHEN I'M WALKIN' JAWS DROPPIN' LIKE
OOH, AH, OOH, AH
OH, HEAVEN HELP ME
I'VE BEEN SEWING WILDFLOWER SEEDS
AND CHASING TUMBLE WEEDS
BUT THAT'S JUST WHO I BE
AND YOU'RE JUST TRYING TO SLOW THIS ROLLING STONE
BUT I'M ON TO YOU BABY
SO GUESS WHAT?
YOU CAN'T RIDE IN MY LITTLE RED WAGON
THE FRONT SEAT'S BROKEN AND THE AXEL'S DRAGIN'
NO YOU CAN'T STEP TO THIS BACKYARD SWAGGER
YOU KNOW IT AIN'T MY FAULT WHEN I'M WALKIN' JAWS DROPPIN' LIKE
OOH, AH, OOH, AH
OH, YOU ONLY LOVE ME FOR MY BIG SUN GLASSES
AND MY TONY LOMAS
I LIVE IN OKLAHOMA
AND I'VE GOT LONG, BLONDE HAIR
AND I PLAY GUITAR, AND I GO ON THE ROAD
AND I DO ALL THE SHIT YOU WANNA DO
AND MY DOG DOES TRICKS
AND I AIN'T ABOUT DRAMA, YA'LL
I LOVE MY APRON
BUT I AIN'T YOUR MAMA!
SO GUESS WHAT?
YOU CAN'T RIDE IN MY LITTLE RED WAGON
THE FRONT SEAT'S BROKEN AND THE AXEL'S DRAGIN'
NO YOU CAN'T STEP TO THIS BACKYARD SWAGGER
YOU KNOW IT AIN'T MY FAULT WHEN I'M WALKIN' JAWS DROPPIN' LIKE
OOH, AHH, OOH, AHH, OOH YEAH, OOH HA