Minutes To Memories Lyrics - Mellencamp John Cougar

(John Mellencamp/George M. Green) 

On a Greyhound thirty miles beyond Jamestown 

He saw the sun set on the Tennesseee line 

He looked at the young man who was riding beside him 

He said I'm old, kind of worn out inside 

I worked my whole life in the steel mills of Gary 

And my father before me I helped build this land 

Now I'm seventy-seven and with God as my witness 

I earned every dollar that passed through my hands 

My family and freinds are the best things I've known 

Through the eye of the needle I'll carry them home 

CHORUS 

Days turn to minutes 

And minutes to memories 

Life sweeps away the dreams 

That we have planned 

You are young and you are the future 

So suck it up and tough it out 

And be the best you can 

The rain hit the old dog in the twilight's last gleaming 

He said son it sounds like rattling old bones 

This highway is long but I know some that are longer 

By sunup tomorrow I guess I'll be home 

Through the hills of Kentucky 'cross the Ohio River 

The old man kept talking 'bout his life and his times 

He fell asleep with his head against the window 

He said an honest man's pillow is his peace of mind 

This world offers riches and riches will grow wings 

I don't take stock in those uncertain things 

CHORUS 

The old man had a vision but it was hard for me to follow 

I do things my way and I pay a high price 

When I think back on the old man and the bus ride 

Now that I'm older I can see he was right 

Another hot one out on Highway Eleven 

This is my life, it's what I've chosen to do 

There are no free rides, no one said it'd be easy 

The old man told me this, my son, I'm telling it to you 

CHORUS 

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