One Bus Ride at a Time

Lyrics

[Intro] Yeah, this one’s for Jason Lessons got a price tag [Verse 1] Jason clocks in early with the badge on his chest Memory care halls, doin’ his best for the guests Names slip away, but he remembers each face Checks the meds, checks the pulse, keeps a steady pace He can calm a storm with a sentence real plain Hold a hand through the fear, ease a little pain But after work one night, made a choice he regrets Took the wheel when he shouldn’t, now the past ain’t reset [Chorus] Now he can’t drive anymore, keys locked in a drawer Car sittin’ crooked where the ditch meets the shore One bad night, one decision, consequences at the door Jason still moves forward, but he can’t drive anymore No shortcuts, no excuse, no pretending it was fine He’s rebuildin’ every mile one bus ride at a time [Verse 2] Rain on the windshield, tires lost their grip Metal met the guardrail, then the whole frame slipped Down in the ditch, headlights pointed at the trees Silence in the cabin, regret down on his knees The DUI came through like a stamp on the file Court dates, sober days, probation for a while Insurance called, license gone, ride-share on repeat Now he walks from the corner through the cold and sleet [Chorus] Now he can’t drive anymore, keys locked in a drawer Car sittin’ crooked where the ditch meets the shore One bad night, one decision, consequences at the door Jason still moves forward, but he can’t drive anymore No shortcuts, no excuse, no pretending it was fine He’s rebuildin’ every mile one bus ride at a time [Bridge] At the care home, he still shows up on time Still reads every chart, still works every line A resident asks, “You headed somewhere today?” He says, “Yeah, I’m gettin’ there—just a different way.” [Verse 3] Now he keeps a paper schedule folded in his coat Counts every transfer, knows the last bus route He don’t tell the story like he’s lookin’ for grace He says, “I put folks at risk, so I’m facin’ the weight.” Some lessons arrive with a siren and a tow Some take a long road before they let you grow Jason’s still Jason, but the old road is done He protects those memories while he repairs his own one [Final Chorus] Now he can’t drive anymore, keys locked in a drawer Car sittin’ crooked where the ditch meets the shore One bad night, one decision, consequences at the door Jason still moves forward, but he can’t drive anymore No shortcuts, no excuse, no pretending it was fine He’s rebuildin’ every mile one bus ride at a time [Outro] Clock in, keep going, own what you’ve done A safer road begins when the dangerous one’s done