July Along The Freeway

July on the freeway Heat waves dancing over lane lines The ocean somewhere to my left Hidden behind the hills tonight A faded map inside the cup holder An exit sign i almost knew I kept driving south for hours With your side of the seat still empty Nobody answered Nobody spoke Just the sound of the tires And the dust on the road July on the freeway Your denim jacket on the passenger seat Every mile keeps moving forward But some things refuse to leave Windows down California sky I stopped chasing what was over Somewhere after midnight July on the freeway July on the freeway A gas station outside ventura A song from 2019 filled the speakers For a second i turned around Like you were sitting there beside me The cashier asked where i was headed I looked up at the highway signs I said, "i'm just passing through" Like i hadn't said it a thousand times The sun was falling Into gold Painting all the places I was afraid to let go July on the freeway Your denim jacket on the passenger seat Every mile keeps moving forward But some things refuse to leave Windows down California sky I stopped chasing what was over Somewhere after midnight July on the freeway July on the freeway Maybe every town we leave behind Keeps its lights a little longer Maybe every version of ourselves Stays there getting smaller Maybe letting go is just another road You don't notice when it starts One more mile beneath the headlights One less weight inside your heart July on the freeway The evening turning blue and gold I don't need to find you now To know what i once held Windows down California sky Some things don't disappear They just become part of your life July on the freeway July on the freeway Southbound July on the freeway