Minutes to Memories

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I run these lyrics every six months or so. Song popped onto my I-pod as I was working on the next story. Simply awesome. Every single person in the world should be exposed to these words instead of watching Jersey Shore.

Minutes to Memories by John Mellencamp

On a Greyhound thirty miles beyond Jamestown
he saw the sun set on the Tennessee line
He looked at the young man who was riding beside him
He said, "I'm old. Kind of worn out inside.
I worked my whole life in the steel mills of Gary
and like my father before me I helped build this land.
Now I'm 77 and with God as my witness,
I've earned every dollar that's passed through my hands.
My family and friends are the best things I've known
And through the eye of a needle I'll carry them home."

Days turn to minutes and minutes to memories
life sweeps away the dreams that we had planned
You are young and you are the future
so suck it up and tough it out and do the best you can.

The rain hit the old dog in the twighlight's last gleaming
He said, 'Son it sounds like rattling old bones,
this highway's long but I know some that are longer
By sunup tomorrow I guess I'll be home.'

Through the hills of Kentucky 'cross the Ohio River
the old man kept talking about his life and his times.
He fell asleep with his head against the window, said:
'An honest man's pillow is his peace of mind.
The world offers riches and riches will grow wings
I don't take stock in those uncertain things.'

Days turn to minutes and minutes to memories
life sweeps away the dreams that we had planned
You are young and you are the future
so suck it up and tough it out and do the best you can.

The old man had a vision but it was hard for me to follow
I do things my way and I pay a high price
But I think back on that old man and that bus ride
And now that I'm older I can see he was right.

Another hot one out on Highway eleven
this is my life
it's what I've chosen to do.
There's no free rides
no one said it'd be easy
The old man told me this, my son,
now I'm telling it to you.

Days turn to minutes and minutes to memories
life sweeps away the dreams that we had planned
You are young and you are the future
so suck it up and tough it out and do the best you can.

My buddy Mike introduced me to this song when we were in college. I know it means the world to him as well. It earned me a speeding ticket a few years back because I stepped on it during the 'Another hot one out on highway eleven' verse.

It's beautiful, simple, and all I wish for my boys.

Live hard, love strong, and take stock in the certain things.

Suck it up!

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