Every Step of the Way

Well, they called the flat plains Kansas
A long, long time ago
When they’d seen the gates of glory
And the fire down below
And many great decisions
Carved the people in this place
You can tell the strength that’s in them
You can see it their face
Well, it’s been nine or ten years since I
Started my ramblin' round
And from hand to mouth I was livin'
Playin' every bar in town
Though a dollar a day didn’t go too far
I could never deny my pride
I couldn’t lay back and be taken care of
While the world went by outside
So I went to school to learn
But I didn’t like what they’d teach
And I went to church to pray
But I didn’t like what they’d preach
I was hard-headed, young and angry
And I felt I could take the heat
And I had to find out my own way
How to live out on the street
So I packed my bags and I left here
To peruse the streets alone
And I saw that side of midnight
Where the beggars howl and groan
Places filled with desperation
Where the future ain’t so bright
But I remember back in Kansas
Where we sang a song at night
We sang every step of the way
Though your dreams can be real
Don’t let them slip-slide away
Doesn’t matter at all
Let them do as they will
Someday you’ll hear them call for you
Goin' round and round from town to town
I tried to make my way
And I believed that all my searchin' and strugglin'
Would pay off big some day
As a teenager, I was rowdy
And I played for good and bad
But I knew my songs had meaning
Though at times it made me mad
And I’d fight the wars of nations
If it brought somebody peace
Yes, I’d fight the wars of madmen
If I knew the fight would cease
But this old world never stopped turning
When my mind was full of doubt
So I went on and played for a dollar a day
And I sang this song straight out
Hey, hey, every step of the way
Though your dreams can be real
Don’t let them slip-slide away
Doesn’t matter at all
Let them do as they will
Someday you’ll hear them call for you (Oh, yeah, for you)
(When they call out your name, say it loud and clear)
(Oh, oh, yeah, come on, come on)
You must’ve seen me travelin' around
You must’ve seen me there
Tryin' to find out where I was heading
Who could have tossed to care
Well, I had all the questions
I wanted the answers
I knew in my heart it was
All part of the game
But every step was
So much harder
Every step of the way
I knew that time would beat me someday
Every step of the way (Yeah)
Though your dreams can be real
Don’t let them, oh-don't let them get away (Slip-slide away)
Doesn’t matter at all
Let them do what they will
Someday you’ll hear them call for you (For you, for you)
(When they call out your name, say it loud and clear)
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
(Yeah, oh)
(Call out your name)
(Oh, oh, oh)
(Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah)
(When they call out your name, then—then play it loud and clear)