HitchHiker
Journey of the Lonely Soul: Daniel, the Hitchhiker's Tale by Crystal Bowersox
Lyrics
I saw him walking somewhere in Utah
I observed a man walking in Utah
With a cardboard sign that read promised land
He carried a cardboard sign with the words "promised land"
No one was stopping cause that'd be crazy
No one stopped to assist, considering it irrational
To help a weary stranger even if you can
Helping a stranger seemed unreasonable, even if possible
Now I'll admit, I hesitated
I hesitated, feeling fear rise within me
I felt the fear creep up inside as I slowed down
Fear increased as I slowed down
But his feet were broken, bruised up and bloody
The hitchhiker's feet were broken, bruised, and bloody
With a hundred miles between us and the next town
A considerable distance separated us from the next town
When I pulled over, He came running
When I stopped, he approached quickly
Hoping my four-wheeled ship could sail him cross the land
He hoped my car could transport him across the land
I said a silent prayer, right then and there
I silently prayed as we met
He said, "God Bless you ma'am Hello, my name is Dan"
He greeted me, saying, "God Bless you ma'am. Hello, my name is Dan"
Oh Daniel, the hitchhiker
Referring to him as Daniel, the hitchhiker
Ain't no salvation where you come from
No salvation in his origin
Tell me your story and I will listen
Offering to hear his story, recognizing our common search for belonging
Cause were all trying to find a place to belong
A universal struggle to find a place to belong
He said I'm tired of building castles
Expressing fatigue in building castles, only to see them destroyed
Just to have them ripped apart by a jealous hand
Metaphorically creating fires from ancient wisdom to avoid loneliness
So now I'm building fires from the book of ages
Continuing the narrative of Daniel, the hitchhiker
To keep my lonely soul from freezing in the sand
Reiterating the absence of salvation in his origins
Oh Daniel, the hitchhiker
Inviting him to share his story, acknowledging our shared quest for belonging
Ain't no salvation where you come from
Highlighting the universal struggle to find a place to belong
Tell me your story and I will listen
Describing the challenges he faces - rejection and closed doors
Cause were all trying to find a place to belong
Commenting on the irony of signs proclaiming openness while doors remain closed
He said, "They chase me out, lock me up
Sharing the hitchhiker's request to be dropped off near Portland
But they never take me in
Expressing gratitude for the kindness shown
The doors are always closed though the sign it says open
Regretting the missed opportunity to convey that he'd always be remembered
Man, ain't that something?"
Reiterating the identity of Daniel, the hitchhiker
Just east of Portland, He said, "Here's fine
Emphasizing the absence of salvation in his origins
I can't thank you enough for being kind"
Reiterating the invitation to share his story
And as I drove away I wished that I'da thought to say
Reflecting on the ongoing collective quest for belonging
That he'd always have a place in my mind
The singer wishes she had expressed the lasting impact Daniel had on her
Oh Daniel, the hitchhiker
Referring to him as Daniel, the hitchhiker
Ain't no salvation where you come from
Reiterating the absence of salvation in his origins
Tell me your story and I will listen
Offering to hear his story, recognizing our common search for belonging
Cause were all trying to find a place to belong
A universal struggle to find a place to belong
We're all trying to find a place to belong
Reiterating the shared quest for a place to belong
Yeah, I'm still trying to find my place
Expressing a personal struggle in finding a place to belong
To belong
A continuation of the personal search for a place to belong
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