Lyrics

Daddy packed the Chevy
Mama cried goodbye
He was by the old oak tree
Tryin’ not to cry
Put a yellow rose in my hand
Said, “Go chase what you don’t know”
I kissed him once, then drove away
Watchin’ home get small

Some goodbyes ain’t forever
Some hearts know when to let go
Sometimes love means leavin’
Even when you don’t want to go
I was eighteen, scared and dreamin’
With a long, long road ahead
And his yellow rose beside me
On the seat where he should’ve been

I made friends by October
Quit callin’ Mama every night
Danced with a boy from Texas
Kissed another one goodnight
A couple came close to something
But close was all they’d get
Funny how your first love fades
But never quite forgets

Some goodbyes ain’t forever
Some hearts know when to let go
Sometimes you gotta lose your way
To find the road back home
Four years went by like headlights
Till there wasn’t much road left
Still that yellow rose was waiting
Pressed inside the book beside my bed

Graduation morning
Daddy hugged me tight
Mama fixed my tassel
Then looked off to the side

I followed her eyes…

There he was.

Same crooked smile
Same blue eyes
A little older
So was I
He held one yellow rose
And said, “Thought you might need a ride.”

Some goodbyes ain’t forever
Some roads just take their time
We had to grow up separately
To meet again just right
I didn’t know where we were going
Didn’t need to know just then
There was a yellow rose between us
And his hand was holding mine

Daddy packed the Chevy
Mama cried again
A yellow rose rode shotgun…

And this time
So did he.