Owen Stroud

I’m not afraid of I-35
it’s the whole reason I learned how to drive
and you say I’m lucky to still be alive
but I’m not afraid of I-35 no
I’m not afraid of I-35

well it’s six lanes of chaos barriers and cones
frontage roads clogged with
folks fleeing work zones
truckers and travelers juggling their phones 
with hardly an eye on the road

and I enter that ramp to kick off my trip
speed up to eighty and tighten my grip
‘cause I seen cars float
and I’ve seen ’em flip
and the wreckage still haunts me in dreams

still I’m not afraid of I-35
it’s the whole reason I learned how to drive
and you say I’m lucky to still be alive
but I’m not afraid of I-35 no
I’m not afraid of I-35

now the upgrades have taken a devilish long while
we’d surge through the lane shifts
and merge single file
now all this fresh concrete I can’t help but smile
‘cause they built a good thing after all

but I know in my heart the ancient complaints
it’s big and it’s bad and that won’t never change
it’s a hideous blight on the wide open range
and deserves every curse in the book

but I’m not afraid of I-35
it’s the whole reason I learned how to drive
and if I run late oh just trust I’ll arrive
’cause I’m not afraid of I-35, no
I’m not afraid of I-35

where the cold Guadalupe flows by the bridge piers
I sleep every night with that road in my ears
and think on the hundreds
of trips through the years
and pray there’ll be reason for more

oh I’ve coasted the prairies for solace and calm
sped o’er the bayous to spark a new song
wound through the Blue Ridge
and wept for the dawn
but girl I’d rather cross Texas for you

‘cause the miles ain’t nothin the hours are few
I’ll dodge the big trucks and the tornadoes too
I’ll cherish the roadway that brings me to you
to stand in the light of your eyes
yes, to stand in the light of your eyes

’cause I’m not afraid of I-35
it’s the whole reason I learned how to drive
and you bet I’m lucky to still be alive
’cause I’m not afraid of I-35 no
I’m not afraid of I-35
I’m not afraid of I-35