Roll On.

November 25th, 2024

“Roll on, highway, roll on along.”

Seven years old and without a care

In a Kenworth with dazzling chrome

Reading a book in the front seat

Of our home away from home

With a silver swan leading the way

Painted in sparkling red, black, & gold

Thousands of horses under the hood,

Just rearing to go

“What a nice little helper!”

Is what the old drivers would say

As they tarped their flatbeds alone

Thinking of their children, far, far away

But I was so little

And just didn’t see

Why they’d be so jealous

Of just my daddy and me

On the quieter back roads

I’d ask if I could “drive”

On his knee with my hands on the wheel

I thought I’d never feel more alive

The same playlist always played

Over and over, on repeat

Windows down, and music up loud

Just trying to beat the heat

Little did he know, I was always listening

When that one Alabama song came on

Hoping that these days would never end

Wishing I could freeze time with a magic wand

He showed me the ropes, and gave me the wheel

To this day he has never let go

Always there, in case I lose my grip

For me, he would beg, steal, or borrow

I’m much older now

23, with a baby of my own

We used to be together every day

But now we mostly talk on the phone

He gave his blood, sweat, & tears

Months away at a time

He’d be considered a cold-hard criminal

If hard work & determination were a crime

By whatever means necessary

He’d do what he had to do

To make sure his family was taken care of

Even when the world beat him black & blue

My daddy still drives

But he drives it all alone

Only now in the baby blue rig 

That his daddy used to call home

I regret the way I acted then

“Too cool” for his favorite song

Laughing and turning away

But I was singing it all along

The familiar tune takes me back

To the summers when we were a crew

Rocking & rolling, doing our best

Just like he’s always asked me to do

“Roll on, Daddy, ‘til you get back home.”