Last Bus to Mercy

Eleven years of counting concrete squares They gave me back my shoes and a ticket fare One clean shirt, one letter folded thin It said the porch light's on, son, come on in Every town we pass, I hear my name Nobody on this road is free of shame I'm on the last bus to mercy Back seat, window down All the wrong I did behind me Grace in the next town I ain't got a dime to pay it Somebody paid it all I'm on the last bus to mercy And I'm rolling toward the call An old man shared his sandwich, didn't ask Didn't want to hear what I had done in the past Said I rode this line in nineteen eighty-three The same forgiving morning waited there for me Every town we pass, I hear my name Nobody on this road is free of shame I'm on the last bus to mercy Back seat, window down All the wrong I did behind me Grace in the next town I ain't got a dime to pay it Somebody paid it all I'm on the last bus to mercy And I'm rolling toward the call Air brakes hissing at the county line Mama on the steps in her Sunday shine She don't say a word about the wasted years She just takes my face and wipes away my tears Rolling, rolling I'm almost home