Well, the screen door slams, Mary's dress waves 
Like a vision she dances across the porch as the radio plays 
Roy Orbison is singing for the lonely 
Hey, that's me, I want you only 
Don't turn me home again, I just can't face myself alone again 

So don't [bad word] back inside, darling, 'cause you know just what I'm here for 
And you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we're not that young anymore 
Well, show a little faith, 'cause there's magic in the night 
You ain't a beauty, hey, alright 
Oh, and that's alright with me 

Now you can hide underneath the covers and study your pain 
Make crosses from your lovers and throw roses in the rain 
You can waste your summers praying in vain 
For a savior to rise from these streets 

Oh, I'm no hero, and that's understood 
All the redemption I can offer, girl, is beneath this dirty hood 
We got a chance to make it good somehow 
Well, what else can we do now? 

Except roll down the window and let the wind blow back our hair 
This night's busted open, and these two lanes can take us anywhere 
We got one last chance to make it real 
To trade in these wings on some wheels 
Climb in back, darling, now heaven is waiting down on the tracks 

So, [bad word] take my hand 
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land 
Oh-oh-oh-oh, Thunder Road, oh, Thunder Road 
Oh, Thunder Road 

Well it's lying out there like a killer in the sun 
And I know that it's late, but we can make it if [bad word] 
Oh-oh-oh-oh, Thunder Road 
Sit tight, take hold, Thunder Road 

Well, I got this guitar and I learned how to make it talk 
And my car's out back if you're ready to take that long, long walk 
From your front porch to my front seat 
The door's open but the ride ain't free 
And I know you're lonely for things that I haven't spoken 
But tonight we'll be free, all the promises will be broken 

There were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys that you sent away 
They haunt these dusty beach roads in the skeleton frames of burned out Chevrolets 
And they scream your name at night in the street 
The graduation gown lies in rags at their feet 

And in the lonely cold before dawn 
You hear the engines roaring on 
But when you get to the porch they're gone 
On the wind 
So Mary climb in 
This is a town full of losers, I'm-a pulling out of here to win