Light a cigarette, there’s no ashtray
You’re not here
HBO, ESPN
You’re not here
Crummy hotel someplace in Utah
You’re not here
Everything’s plastic, everything’s paper
You’re not here

Ah—ah, Ah—ah

At the gas stations and truck stops everyone’s an enemy
You’re not here
Every tax evader and former white-collar criminal has a radio show
You’re not here
To hell with premium gas, to hell with not eating meat,
to hell with trying to make myself understood
You’re not here
Two beds, not enough blankets, a bible, couple bars of soap
You’re not here

This is the life
I dream about
This is the life
This is the life

I wake up sweating from a bad dream about dead birds and lost friends
You’re not here
Outside it is dark, inside it is darker, too many lamps, not enough bulbs
You’re not here
The road is lonely place, truck drivers will always be underpaid, I want you,
You’re not here
I picture you taking off your clothes, melting next to me, I want you
You’re not here

Ah—ah, Ah—ah

(lyrics: Dan Bern)