Every Step of the Way

Well they called the flat plains Kansas a long, long time ago
 When they'd seen the gates of glory and the fire down below
 The many great decisions of the people in this place
 You could tell the strength within them, you could see it their face
 Well it's been 9 or 10 years since I started my ramblin' round
 And from hand to mouth I was livin' playing every bar in town
 Though a dollar a day didn't go too far I could never deny my pride
 I couldn't lay back and be taken care of while the world went by outside
 So I went to school to learn but I didn't like what they'd teach
 And I went to church to pray but I didn't like what they'd preach
 I was hard-headed, young and angry, and I felt I could take the heat
 And I had to find out my own way how to live out on the street
 So I packed my bags and I left here to peruse the streets alone
 And I saw that side of midnight where the beggars howl and groan
 Places filled with desperation where the future ain't so bright
 But I remember back in Kansas when we sang a song at night
 We sang every step of the way
 Though your dreams can be real don't let them slip slide away
 Doesn't matter at all, let them do as they will
 Someday you'll hear them call for you
 Goin' around and round from town to town I tried to make my way
 I believed that all my searching and struggling would payoff bug some day
 As a teenager I was rowdy and I played for good and bad
 Though I knew my songs had meaning at times it made me mad
 And I'd fight the wars of nations if it brought somebody peace
 Yes I'd fight the wars of madmen if I knew the fight would cease
 But this ol' world never stopped turning when my mind was full of doubt
 So I went on and played for a dollar a day and I sang this song straight out
 Hey hey, every step of the way
 Though your dreams can be real, don't let them slip slide away
 Doesn't matter at all, let them do as they will
 Someday you'll hear them call for you
 Oh yeah, for you
 When they call out your name say it loud and clear
 Come on, come on
 You must have seen me traveling' around you must have seen me there
 Tryin' to find out where I was heading you could have tossed to care
 Well, I had all the questions, I wanted the answers
 I knew in my heart it was all part of the game
 But every step was so much harder, every step of the way
 I knew that time would beat me someday
 Hey hey, every step of the way
 Though your dreams can be real, don't let them slip slide away
 Doesn't matter at all, let them do as they will
 Someday you'll hear them call for you
 Oh yeah, for you