D           A               G                      Bm        
I was just 15 and out of control, lost to James Dean and rock and roll 
  G                    D                  A  
I knew down deep in my country soul that I had to get away 
D               A                G                        Bm   
Hollywood was a lady in red that danced in my dreams as I tossed in bed 
  G                   D            A            D     
I knew I'd wind up in jail or dead if I have to stay 
 
Chorus 1: 
              G                      A  
And I thought happiness was Lubbock, Texas 
               D 
In my rearview mirror 
   G                    A               D (walk down)     
My mama kept callin' me home but I just did not want to hear her 
        G                  E7            A7 A4  
And the vision was getting clearer in my dreams 
 
So I lit out one night in June, stoned on the glow of a Texas moon 

Hummin' an old Buddy Holly tune called Peggy Sue 

With my favorite jeans and a cheap guitar, I ran off chasin' a distant star 

If Buddy Holly could make it that far, I figured I could too 
 
Chorus 2: 

And I thought happiness was Lubbock, Texas 

In my rearview mirror 

My mama kept callin' me home but I just did not want to hear her 

And the vision was getting clearer in my dreams 
 
Bridge: 
        Bm                                       F#m 
But the Hollywood moon didn't smile the same old smile that I'd grown up with 
    Bm               F#m            E7  
The lady in red just wanted my last dime 
      D               D/C#            D/B                  D/A 
And I cried myself to sleep at night, too dumb to run, too scared to fight 
    G            E7              A 
And too proud to admit it at the time 
  
So I got me some gigs on Saturday nights, not much more than orchestrated fights 

I'd come home drunk and I'd try to write  but the words came out wrong 

Hellbent and bound for a wasted view, too much gin and not enough Vermouth 

And no one to teach me how to seek the truth before I put it in the song 
 
Chorus 3: 

I still thought happiness was Lubbock, Texas 

In my rearview mirror 

My mama kept callin' me home but I just could not, would not hear her 

And the vision was getting clearer in my dreams 
 
I thank god each and every day for giving me the music and the words to say 

I'd-a never made it any other way, He was my only friend 

And now I sleep a little better at night and when I look in the mirror in the morning light 

The man I see was both wrong and right, he's goin' home again 
 
Chorus 4: 

I guess happiness was Lubbock, Texas 

In my rearview mirror 

But now happiness is Lubbock, Texas 

Growin' nearer and dearer  

And the vision is gettin' clearer in my dreams 

And I think I fin'lly know just what it means 
           G            E7                  A7          D   
And when I die, you can bury me in Lubbock, Texas'in my jeans