I recently took my wife Alicia with me out on the road for the week following her birthday. She has been in the truck with me several times, and I love having her with me. She takes a lot of pictures and I tend to stop more when I have a rider along, which is cool. It’s nice to stop and look around once in a while. The extra stops and sight-seeing reminded me of the times my dad would take a few moments to stop and capture a moment when I was out with him. It makes me realize just how focused I am on my route and schedule, rather than the life I’m missing as I try to race my 14-hour clock. As I wrote this poem, I enjoyed recalling the “stop and take a look around” pace that my dad practiced, and yet, he was still able to get to his destinations on-time and keep his “Big-Dog” image. As truckers, we get to see some magnificent scenery and cultures while out there on the road, so I urge you to take some time to stop once in a while and enjoy them – don’t just drive your life away!
DRIVING MY YOUNG LIFE AWAY
By Trevor Hardwick
I’m chasing the morning, on a hot summer night,
And driving my young life away.
My eyeballs are burning, my headlights are bright,
And no one has nuthin’ to say.
A sign on the highway, says “no turning back,”
There’s truth in the concept, I’d say.
While chasing the morning, on a hot summer night,
And driving my young life away.
The lines in my book, may be long overdue,
And the big wheels continue to roll.
The years keep on flyin’, like telephone poles,
But the big hand keeps tickin’ too slow.
As a kid I would dream, I could chase down the stars,
And that’s what I’m doing today.
At midnight I’m rollin’, on a hot summer night,
And driving my young life away.
There’s a song on the air, that is taking me back,
And it’s been a long time since I’ve heard.
I crank up the volume, to drown out the fan,
And sing like I still know the words.
I know it seems strange, but I get a strong feeling,
This song knows the words that I’d say.
At one in the morning, on a hot summer night,
While driving my young life away.
There are idling trucks, at the Fill ‘er Up Diner,
Killing some valuable time.
Just cross the border, for a meal made to order,
Is a catch-phrase they put on their sign.
A quick bite to eat, then I’m back on the street,
‘Cause I ain’t got much time to stay.
At two in the morning, on a hot summer night,
I’m driving my young life away.
There’s a place in Dakota, a town they call Wall,
Where dad used to stop and I’d play.
A dinosaur statue, a playground below,
And a place he could park in the shade.
In the back of my mind, I’m dreaming of old times,
And memories dad and I made.
It’s three in the morning, on a hot summer night,
And I’m driving my young life away.
A bridge that I cross, in a town I roll through,
Or a brightly-lit big city street.
I’m thinkin’ of places, the old man would take me,
As I would sit there in my seat.
But now that I’m grown, and the old man’s passed,
There’s so much that I’d like to say.
At four in the morning, on a hot summer night,
While driving my young life away.
I recall times, we would stop at the borders,
For pics at the welcoming sign.
Traffic whizzed by, like we weren’t even there,
As we shared a moment in time.
Someday I’ll stop, and I’ll take time to listen,
I’ll take my own pictures someday.
But at five in the morning, on summer twilights,
I’m driving my young life away.
The neon lights flash, in the sleepy old towns,
The billboards are few in between.
Biscuits and gravy, a hot cup of Joe,
And motels claim rooms that are clean.
The sun will be up, in a matter of minutes,
I guess I’ll just be on my way.
It’s six in the morning, I’m doin’ alright,
Just driving my young life away.