The Empty Seat

Your jacket's on the passenger seat Same place that you left it I should probably move it by now But I never do There's a gas station off Route 9 Still open after midnight I stop there when I can't sleep Like we used to The radio keeps losing signal Somewhere past the county line I hear half a song and half the silence Every time I know you're not beside me But I still turn my head Your jacket's still riding shotgun Like you never left at all Every mile keeps moving forward But your shadow stays in the car Your jacket's still riding shotgun Every road looks like before Funny how an empty seat can feel Like you're still sitting there There's a coffee stain upon the sleeve You always said you'd clean it Now it's been there long enough To belong there A traffic light turns red at three No other cars around me I sit there longer than I need And watch the rain Then I catch myself still laughing At something you would've said Like you're somewhere in the dashboard light Instead I know you're not beside me But I still leave the space Your jacket's still riding shotgun Like you never left at all Every mile keeps moving forward But your shadow stays in the car Your jacket's still riding shotgun Every road looks like before Funny how an empty seat can feel Like you're still sitting there Maybe one day I'll take it home And finally clear the seat Maybe one day I'll stop expecting You beside me at red lights Your jacket's still riding shotgun Like you never left at all Every mile keeps moving forward But your shadow stays in the car Your jacket's still riding shotgun Even now on nights like this Some things leave without a warning Some things never leave at all The gas station lights behind me The highway stretching dark Your jacket's still riding shotgun Through another lonely mile