packed up my piano and a suitcase full of clothes 
 and i went looking for a better place to hide 
 ride across the border in a broken down sedan 
 with a bottle and a rifle on my mind 

 on and on and on and on the miles stretch for hours 
 the radio keeps spitting out the tunes 
 every other song is just another tired rhythm 
 another tired lover's tune 

 it's a long, long way back to nashville 
 where [bad word] from, where i been 
 it's a long, long way back to nashville 
 but i promise i will see you again 

 through the ice and fog this morning the sun [bad word] up 
 i'm standing on the shores of the hudson bay 
 over glass fired violet, silence, silence 
 calling up the day 

 and every man is an island, an island 
 in his own special way 
 there's a white ghost out on the water, the water 
 with one good song and nothing else to say 

 it's a long, long way back to nashville 
 where [bad word] from, where i been 
 it's a long, long way back to nashville 
 but i promise i will see you again 
 in heaven