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
Are the people in this place
You could tell the strength that's in them
You could see it their face

Well, it's been nine or ten years
Since I started my rambling round
And from hand to mouth I was living
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

Going round and round from town to town
I tried to make my way
And I believed that all my searching and struggling
Would pay off big some day
As a teenager, I was rowdy
And I played for good and bad
But I knew my songs had meaning
Though 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 old 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
Oh, oh, yeah
Come on, come on

You must've seen me traveling around
You must've seen me there
Trying to find out where I was heading
You could've 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
Oh, don't let them give away
Doesn't matter at all
Let them do as they will
Someday you'll hear them call for you
For you, for you

When they call out your name
Say it loud and clear
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, oh
Call out your name
Oh-oh-oh
Yeah, yeah, oh, yeah
When they call out your name
Then play it loud and clear