Driving along a two-lane one night
I picked this hitchhiker, he seemed mostly all right
So, we got to talking, and he spun me his tale
I had nothing to do, so I figured, what the hell?

He came out of Beaumont, where the oil gets refined
Not so much for the people, but still mostly they were kind
Found himself in some trouble trying to scare up some green
Had to high-tail it out of there 'fore he turned eighteen

He said, 'I've got me a job driving a solid waste truck
'And I've had shitty jobs before, so I figured what the fuck?
'It's better than busting up rocks or bailing hay
'I can listen to the radio, and no one gets in my way

'But I worked in an office once, just like you
'Yeah, those bastards sure bit off more than they could chew
'Most days I would just rant and rave, bitch and moan
'If they think you're nothing but trouble, at least they leave you alone'

Better days are the ones that find you above ground
And better times will come when you stop and look around
Yeah, nothing really goes and nothing really stays
When you finally see that then you'll find better days

'So,' he said, 'I figured I just wasn't cut out for that life
'But by that time, I had me three kids and a wife
'And something just snapped, and one day I ran
'But someday I'm going back home again'

Then he got really quiet and we just drove on
So, I searched the dial for a good country song
Just something to which we both could relate
Just something to help fill up the space

Then he said, 'There's this church I've been trying to find
'It's just a crucifix atop a double-wide
'This preacher in Huntsville, he gave me the address
'He said I just had to get there and let God do the rest'

Well, I knew the place, so I drove on ahead
And I can still remember the last thing that he said:
'If you're not right with Jesus, then you're just not right'
Then he disappeared like a thief in the night

Better days are the ones that find you above ground
And better times will come when you stop and look around
'Cause nothing really goes and nothing really stays
When you finally see that then you'll find better days