Sixteen carriages drivin' away While I watch them ride with my dreams away To the summer sunset on a holy night On a long back road, all the tears I fight Sixteen carriages drivin' away While I watch them ride with my dreams away To the summer sunset on a holy night On a long black road, all the tears I fight At fifteen, the innocence was gone astray Had to leave my home at an early age I saw mama prayin', I saw daddy grind All my tender problems had to leave behind It's been umpteen summers and I'm not in my bed On the back of the bus in a bunk with the band Goin' so hard, gotta choose myself Underpaid and overwhelmed I might cook, clean, but still won't fold Still workin' all my life, you know Only God knows, only God knows Only God knows Sixteen carriages drivin' away While I watch them ride with my fears away To the summer sunset on a holy night On a long back road, all the tears I fight Sixteen carriages drivin' away While I watch them ride with my fears away To the summer sunset on a holy night On a long back road, all the tears I fight Sixteen dollars, workin' all day Ain't got time to waste, I got art to make I got love to create on this holy night They won't dim my light, all these years I fight It's been thirty-eight summers and I'm not in my bed On the back of the bus in a bunk with the band Goin' so hard, now I miss my kids Overworked and overwhelmed I might cook, clean, but still won't fold Still workin' all my life, you know Only God knows, only God knows Only God knows Sixteen carriages drivin' away While I watch them ride with my fears away To the summer sunset on a holy night On a long back road, all the tears I fight Sixteen carriages drivin' away While I watch them ride with my fears away To the summer sunset on a holy night On a long back road, all these tears I fight Oh, oh Oh Oh, oh At fifteen, the innocence was gone astray Had to take care of home at an early age I saw mama cryin', I saw daddy lyin' Had to sacrifice and leave my fears behind For legacy If it's the last thing I do You'll remember me 'Cause we got somethin' to prove In your memory On a highway of truth Still see our faces when you close your eyes Sixteen carriages drivin' away While I watch them ride with my dreams away