the cops are out in numbers, and everwhere I look
they’re pullin’ people over and they’re throwin’ them the book,
& that’s why I’m not really speeding, no, I’m not really leading,
I’m just driving to Poughkeepsie for a concert and a meeting,

everybody tells me Poughkeepsie is a small town,
with a very long name that isn’t spelled like it sounds,
when they said that Hooked on Phonics® would only get you so far,
they were thinking of Poughkeepsie, and the children down in Bryn Mawr,
+++ and now I’ve passed Ford City, and now I’ve passed Kittaning,
+++ signs that say “New Bethlehem” in colors that are fading,
+++ 28’s the back way to get on 80 eastbound,
+++ I’m headed out of PA to Poughkeepsie..

Colleen’s from Poughkeepsie, or somewhere on the outskirts,
and she could’ve gone to Vassar, but instead she came to Pittsburgh,
I forgot to ask her which way she takes to get there,
I guess it doesn’t matter, I’ll just find out when it’s over,
+++ and now I’ve passed Ford City, and now I’ve passed Kittaning,
+++ signs that point to Clarion in colors that are fading,
+++ every town you pass through, someone’s spent their life there,
+++ born, they go to school, get married, have kids, and retire there..

once I had a good friend who tried to sell me toothpaste,
hate the way a sales pitch makes you sad to see a friend’s face,
multi-level marketing’s a faith with no good holidays,
and driving to Poughkeepsie’s better anyway..
+++ 28’s the back way to get on 80 eastbound,
+++ to 81, to 84, to New York, then take 9 North,
+++ I’m headed out of PA to Poughkeepsie…