The banks of the river run through my hometown As a boy, I ran the dirt roads, and I scraped my knees Well they paved the roads eventually With neon signs and car dealerships and diners The soldiers fill the hotels on the weekends I saw the pretty women as I walked through town Well, I moved away soon as I turned sixteen Figured I was old enough to go and work a job Well I floated down main street, pools of car lights Overcame me, wishing I was still back home The soldiers fill the hotels on the weekends I saw the pretty women as I walked through town Well, Jacksonville's a city with a hopeless streetlight Seems like you're lucky if it ever change from red to green I was born in an abundance of inherited sadness And .50 cent picture frames bought at a five and dime I ended up a soldier on the weekend Looking for a vacancy I wasn't able to find Somewhere the night sky hangs like a blanket Shoot it with my cap gun just to make it Seem like stars