Louis, I felt this one and as soon as that happens to me, I am immediately more forgiving of little things. But here is an example: Generally I like the chorus but can't help thinking that it would be better if you could find a substitute for "used to have" in the line "..used to have a simple kind of life". It seems like you need to convey the "longing" for the simple life but somehow that particular phrase is not quite in the pocket.

I like the line "the years roll by like highway signs". It's almost as good as John Prine's line "The years just flow by like a broken down dam" in his song Angel from Montgomery.

Another little thing that you might want to revisit is the line about wishing he had a nickel for every mile (on the freeway). Clearly, it isn't money this guy wants- it's peace. So if it were my song, I would try to use that "real estate' in the song to find a metaphor that better expresses what he really longs for. I don't know exactly what that would be but I think it would be something like "I wish I had a minute to tell my son that I love him for every hour I spend thinking about it on the freeway" Now say something like that in half the words and I think it might leverage the emotional impact.

But you have accomplished the hardest part already and that is you have created a mood and expression that we all can connect to. I think the song can still be better and I think you can do it.

I really like your second verse because you have made it personal- that he feels guilty about not being able to spend more time with his kid, and yet, he is frustrated because he doesn't know what to do about it. I think it was the second verse that made me began to "feel" this song. Good job Louis. Keep it up. I always look forward to listening to your songs.

50 miles one way everyday
gives a man a lot of time to search his mind
and he's wondering if things will ever change
cause the more he tries the more he gets behind
(chorus)
and he's living out, a tale that's told
following a well worn road
and he ask himself is it all worthwhile
cause the years roll by like highway signs
he knows he's running out of time
and he wished he had a dime for every mile
cause he'd trade it all tomorrow
for a taste of yesterday
when he used to have a simple kind of life

5 o'clock gridlocked interstate
and he's promised him he wouldn't miss the game
It's the 2nd time it's happened just this week
even though it's not his fault he feels ashamed

(chorus)
and he's living out, a tale that's told
following a well worn road
and he ask himself is it all worthwhile
cause the years roll by like highway signs
he knows he's running out of time
and he wished he had a dime for every mile
cause he'd trade it all tomorrow
for a taste of yesterday
when he used to have a simple kind of life

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." - Albert Einstein