Mike Marker 43

[Verse 1]
Used to fly down backroads with nothin’ to lose
Windows down, future wide, pickin’ any route I’d choose
Thought I had forever and then some more
Didn’t count the miles, just hit the floor
But the mirror don’t lie like it used to do
And the dreams I chase now… look more like truth
Less about speed, more about weight
Less about me, more about what I create
[Chorus]
I’m closer to the end than the start
But there’s still fire in the heart
I’ve lost some time, gained some grace
Left behind the race for place
The road behind had wild turns
The one ahead’s where legacy burns
Might be mile marker 43
But there’s still a whole lot left of me
[Verse 2]
I’ve seen the signs that youth don’t read
Like “Slow it down” and “Watch who you lead”
I used to grip the wheel with a tighter hand
Now I ride with a purpose — and a better plan
Used to want my name in lights
Now I want it in my children’s eyes at night
I’m not done, but I’m not the same
And I’m finally okay with that change
[Chorus – Bigger now]
I’m closer to the end than the start
But I’ve learned what sets men apart
A name don’t mean much in stone
If you didn’t build more than your own
The road behind had rage and flame
The one ahead’s got weight and name
Might be mile marker 43
But there’s still a whole damn road in me
[Bridge – Spoken, almost whispered]
I don’t miss bein’ 20…
I miss not knowing how fast it goes
But I’ve still got time
To leave something worth the miles
[Final Chorus – Let it land honest]
Yeah, I’m closer to the end than the start
But I’m drivin’ with a fuller heart
I’ve made mistakes, made a life
Made it through the hardest nights
The road behind? That was for me
The road ahead… is who I’ll be
And mile marker 43?
Feels like exactly where I’m meant to be

Gravel, Country, Rock, Rap