Pioneers (Astronauts and Kaintucks)

Like the rockets over Cape Canaveral, I’m shooting up almost every night
Launching through the stars and black above you chasing after the streaks of light
I’m not thinking about the vibration, hoping nothing terminates this flight
Remembering how it felt to be sixteen forever just once in your life

Let’s make a toast
We’ll drink this damn river dry
Follow the banks to the coast
Chasing a Gulf sunrise
These ain’t tears, just dust from the years gone by in my eyes
Wrong or right
Good lord willing and the creek don’t rise

My shirts wadded on the floor by the rough sketches of your face
Like the highwaymen and kaintucks, lost and wandering the Natchez Trace
I’m still chasing broken dreams, but remembering is such a fight
Seems like you make me feel like I was sixteen forever just once in my life

Let’s make a toast
We’ll drink this damn river dry
Follow the banks to the coast
Chasing a Gulf sunrise
These ain’t tears, just dust from the years gone by in my eyes
Wrong or right
Good lord willing and the creek don’t rise

I’ll keep these glasses tinted your rose shaded hue
I’ll count every star that reminds me of you
Well, I’d lie if I had the guts, but I spilled them in the rain
That night we talked until dawn while hiding behind that train
It’s the knowledge of the needle and the knife
And of being sixteen forever once in your life

Let’s make a toast
We’ll drink this damn river dry
Follow the banks to the coast
Chasing a Gulf sunrise
These ain’t tears, just dust from the years gone by in my eyes
Wrong or right
Good lord willing and the creek don’t rise