The Road [Live]

Sitting alone in my hotel Looking in the mirror wondering, well After all this time you never thought You'd still be out on the road Like a gypsy I was born to roam Like a wanderer with no fixed abode I think about the friends I've left behind on the road Well, the road's been rocky along the way It's been a long, hard haul on the motorway But if it gets too smooth it's time to call it a day (On the road) The bed and breakfasts and the greasy spoons (The road) The loser bars and the noisy rooms (The road) The casualties who did too many lines (The road) I'm wasted talent on women and wine I think of all the friends I've left behind Whenever it's time to get back out on the road Started playing blues in a coffee bar I took a trip down the Charing Cross Road With my imitation Gretsch guitar And my head full of songs and my eyes full of stars I saw a band called the Rolling Stones I thought, "That's it, I'll get a band I'm leaving home, I'm out on the road" The motorways all over this land (The road) Far away places like Wigan and Birmingham (The road) Didn't have no name, didn't have any fans (The road) Didn't have no money, so we slept in the van All those early gigs we ever played Sometimes we were lucky if we even got paid On the road Pete played on the bass guitar (The road) Liked to get around, mixing with all the stars (The road) But Mrs. Avory's child was all fingers and thumbs (The road) But solid as a rock, setting time on the drums While Dave, the Rave hit the rock 'n' roll riffs Yours truly strummed away with a slightly limp wrist On the road Everyday is when I can't get used to it Everyday is when I can't get away Another day, another freeway to face That's the road Well, life is a road, it's a motorway And the road gets rocky along the way But if it gets too smooth it's time to call it a day (On the road) Jimi Hendrix, The Who, the Led Zeppelin and Free (The road) They took the road so it's alright by me (The road) Some are survivors, some are debris (The road) If you play in a band that's the road that you take Living in it, eating in it, sleeping in it You wake up in the morning, what do you see? The road Life is a road, it's a motorway Lost a lot of good friends along the way All the families and homes that I've left behind To the wives and the lovers and friends who had their time I say, "You take your road and I'll take mine" (You take your road and I'll take mine) You take your road and I'll take mine (You take your road and I'll take mine) Life is a road, it's a motorway And the road gets rocky along the way But if it gets too smooth it's time to call it a day (On the road) Observed all the various phases from Flower power, heavy metal and acid rock And still all the critics keep saying "Are they still around? When they gonna stop?" It's just the dedicated followers of fashion who like putting down All the well respected men who came dancing and are still on the road (The road) Sometime I get suicidal (The road) Now everyone is a rival (The road) Different cars, different bars and hotels (The road) Corporations, big business and egos When it all gets too bad I think back When we were all each other had When we started out on the road And there's gas in my tank And I've still got a way to go Another hotel, it's time to check out soon As I look around the room I think of all the friends I've left behind On the road