Well I never was one for trouble
But I reckon it was for me
When I was just a little boy
Pep put me on his knee
And he said, "Dear son, steer clearly
On the high road you should stay
'Cause down there in that valley, boy
Them detours make you stray"
He said don't waste tomorrow on today's idle time
It's hard time living on the backroads of your mind

On the backroads of my mind
Where the turns are mostly blind
Reckoning by rote and memory
Well, they've all been neglected
And lately are in decline
It's hard time living on the backroads of my mind

Now the years flew by so swiftly
And I can't say they was kind
The old home and my family, I left it all behind
For a life of hopeful fortune
On the highways I did roam
But like so many dead end roads, they left me all alone
I ain't ever been to Jackson where trouble's so easy to find
I've mourned my fair share here on the backroads of my mind

On the backroads of my mind
Where the turns are mostly blind
Reckoning by rote and memory
Well, they've all been neglected
And lately are in decline
It's hard time living on the backroads of my mind

On the backroads of my mind
Where the turns are mostly blind
Reckoning by rote and memory
Well, they've all been neglected
And lately are in decline
It's hard time living on the backroads of my mind
Yes, it's hard time living on the backroads of my mind