Wishful thinking - an imaginary trip. She was eight years
younger, and I had no business getting so involved.
When she went off to college in another state,
I mourned pathetically for weeks.

I'm tryin' to keep the words of a song alive in my memory
It's a very special song; it says ev'rything I need to say
It's a song about a girl and the world of things that she means to me
    Now I can't forget it; I'm only a few hours away

I'm tryin' to put the lyric I've written to some kind of melody
If only I had my guitar in the car I'd know how
But all I can do is to keep my eyes looking ahead of me
    I'm only five or six hundred short miles from her now

        I've never taken the kind of a chance I'm taking today
        I can't begin to know what she'll say

I'm hopin' she's kept all her feelings alive in her memory
It's been so long since we've spoken or seen each other
I've got to have this song down by the time she lays eyes on me
    And I'm hopin' this time she's convinced of how much I love her

        I've never travelled so long for a heart so far away
        I've waited three long years for this day

Oh, I'm tryin' to keep the words of a song alive in my memory
It's a very special song; it says ev'rything I need to say
It's a song about a girl and the world of things that she means to me
    And I can't forget it; I'm only a few hours away
    No, I can't forget it; I'm only a few hours away
    Hey, I won't forget this song! I'm just a few hours away
        A few hours away...