One More Step Ahead

Lyrics

[Verse 1] Jose leaves the porch before the county wakes Checks the latch twice, checks the road for brakes A grocery cart rattles; he steps aside Still reads every doorway, every passing ride They pinned on his jacket a different name But the drills in his bones came home the same [Pre-Chorus] He counts the exits, measures the room Tells himself there's no call coming soon [Chorus] He wants the whole wide world in a box on a shelf Every loose end tied, every fear to himself But the lid won't close and the hours won't wait So he shoulders the day and he walks through the gate No rest in his hands, no quiet in his head Still he keeps on moving, one more step ahead [Verse 2] He works past supper under shop-floor light Saves every dollar, sleeps half the night His boots by the bed, his keys in a row A habit from somewhere he can't quite let go His sister says, "Jose, come sit awhile" He says, "In a minute," and manages a smile [Pre-Chorus] He knows every sound that the old house makes Still wakes at the hinge and the floorboard shakes [Chorus] He wants the whole wide world in a box on a shelf Every loose end tied, every fear to himself But the lid won't close and the hours won't wait So he shoulders the day and he walks through the gate No rest in his hands, no quiet in his head Still he keeps on moving, one more step ahead [Bridge] Some nights he puts both feet on the floor Lets the coffee cool, doesn't check the door The world stays messy, the walls stay still He breathes through the moment by stubborn will [Final Chorus] He can't fit the whole wide world in a box on a shelf Can't carry every burden by himself But the lid can stay open; the dawn can wait He'll take one slow breath, then step through the gate No easy finish, no clean line ahead Still Jose keeps moving, one more step ahead [Outro] One more step ahead One more step ahead