When I was fifteen, I left home young
Tore up the tracks and then some
Me and my dad didn't see eye to eye

I never took to him, he never took the time
Bullet proof, more than tough
Smarter than he ever was


CHORUS
Well I burned those wheels down the highway

And I learned what I learned the hard way
Do the best you can do, love many, trust few
Work hard for the money in your hands

That's the measure of a man
Yeah the measure of a man


Anger burns, love cools it down
Pretty young woman turned my head around
The world through her eyes looked so different

She lives on faith, she looks for forgiveness
Fool proof, it ain't easy
I need her, she needs me


CHORUS
She stole my heart on this highway

She taught me to love through the hard days
Yeah she's cool when I'm not, she's as steady as a rock
She's as solid as the ring on my hand

That's the measure of a man
Yeah the measure of a man


Last night she handed me a son of my own
It killed me to do it, but I picked up the phone


CHORUS
Hey dad I burned ten years down this highway
And I learned what I learned the hard way

Truth is I need you, we'll cry if we need to
And I'll swallow my pride if you can
That's the measure of a man

Oh yeah, the measure of a man