Her mama cussed
She was out of film
As her baby came down those stairs

Looking right at her boyfriend
His hands, they shook
As he pinned on her corsage

And she almost cried
Cause she'd liked this guy
From the very start.

Shoulda been just another first
And not the last
Beautiful moment in two lives

When they looked back
But now they're


[chorus]
Flowers by the side of the road
Yeah, that's all that's left

Of the hopes and dreams
Of two seventeen year-olds
Some dreams live on

And some, they don't
All that's left to know
All that's left to show

Are flowers by the side of the road

Could've been me

Could've been you
How many times have i said
I've just had one or two

It's a sobering thought
It's a sobering sight
How like a bad, bad dream

You can lose everything
On a careless night
Be the one who lives

Be the one who's gone
Be the mother whose heart
Has to somehow go on

But she'll leave

[repeat chorus]