After a period of serious work and reflection, we were ready to “lighten up,” to go out and play.

The first year was filled with individual redesign and change. We had explored the tough questions about who we were and what we wanted out of our lives. During the early phase, we were very much together and engaged in our joint vision. We remember feeling free and youthful and excited about every possibility—even a bit giddy about all that was happening.

We made spontaneous decisions, our direction was ours alone to choose, and time became fluid. The speed at which we traveled was flexible moment to moment. The metaphor of hopping into the convertible with the top down and heading out on the next leg of the adventure was inspiring, even thrilling and matched our prevailing mood. We were very excited about the seemingly endless possibilities.

Lyrics

On the open road, into the cool of night
Settle in, enjoy the ride since we will not be back
Roll the windows down, speed is set for cruisin’
City lights disappear, fingers tap to the rhythm of the road

Unfold the map onto the dashboard
Country roads wandering, zigzag, and narrow
Highways unending, straight as an arrow
Town edges, county lines, pass in easy rhythm of the road

Don’t know just where we’ll be tomorrow
Might make Grand Canyon by tonight
Driving from coast to coast on our time
Meantime, rocking to the rhythm of the road

Finding new people and places, everywhere we go
Past journeys map their faces, soundless testimony to the road

On the open road, into the light of day
Settle in, enjoy the ride since we will not be back
Roll the windows down, speed is set for cruisin’
Morning sun, another day, fingers tap to the rhythm of the road

Fingers tap
We won’t be back
Fingers tap to the rhythm of the road

Credits

From Swinging Statues, track released 01 January 2004
Cheryl Martlage – Lyrics and vocals
Emerson Martlage – Music, guitar and vocals
Tom Tomasello – Producer/Arranger
Jim Bruno – Vocal producer
Mr Toad’s San Francisco – Mastering