Red Lights On

Woke up to a ringing I can't ignore

Hands taped up, feeling twice my age or more

Every step I take's out of rhythm and time

Like I'm falling behind in my own headline

Two weeks burned in a fevered room

Watching shadows crawl till the afternoon

Then I slipped, hit the ground with a curse

Funny how it hurts when life hits first

I keep saying, "Man, it'll pass somehow"

But I don't know when and I don't know how

My engine's overheating, red lights on

Dashboard screaming, red lights on

Radiator busted, clutch long gone

Red lights on, red lights on

I'm running on empty but I'm holding strong

White knuckles tight till the break of dawn

I don't need saving, I just need some ground

To kill the heat before it takes me down

Money on my mind and the clock spins fast

Waiting on checks that are slow as glass

Tax man calling like he owns my name

Stacking weight I can barely claim

I dream about someplace I can disappear

No phone, no pressure, no voices near

But the world keeps tugging on my sleeve

Whispering, "Not today, boy, you don't get to leave"

I joke it off, say, "Yeah, I'm alright"

But the truth shows up late at night

My engine's overheating, red lights on

Dashboard screaming, red lights on

Radiator busted, clutch long gone

Red lights on, red lights on

I'm running on empty but I'm holding strong

White knuckles tight till the break of dawn

I don't need saving, I just need some ground

To kill the heat before it takes me down

There's a girl back home with the porch light on

Loving me even when I'm half gone

She's been reading the space in my tired eyes

Catching the thoughts that I never try

Baby, I know I've been miles away

You stayed steady when I couldn't stay

If I'm breaking, you don't turn aside

You just pull me close and say, "Take your time"

My engine's overheating, red lights on