With this post, I will inagurate a (hopefully) daily "Song of the day".
It will be the complete lyrics to some musical song that tells an upbeat story of hope, love, or inspiration.

After much searching, I came across this one that has some of each element:

"Minutes To Memories"

Words and music by John Cougar Mellencamp


"On a Greyhound thirty miles beyond Jamestown
He saw the sun set on the Tennessee line
He looked at the young man who was riding beside him
He said I'm old and kind of worn out inside
I worked my whole life in the Steel mills near Gary
And my father before me I helped build this land
Now I'm 77 and with God as my witness
I earned every dollar that passed through my hands
My family and friends are the best things I've known
Through the eye of a needle, I'll carry them home

Chorus:
Days turn to minutes and minutes to memories
Life sweeps away the dreams that we have planned
You are the young and you are the future
So suck it up and tough it out
And be the best you can

The rain hit the old dog in the twilights last gleaming
he said Son it sounds like rattling old bones
This highways long, but I know some that are longer
And by sunup tomorrow I guess I'll be home
Through the hills of Kentucky across the Ohio River
The old man kept talking about his life and his times
He fell asleep with his head against the window
Hesaid an honest mans pillow is his peace of mind
This world offers riches, and riches grow wings
And I don't take stock in those uncertain things

Repeat chorus

the old man had a vision, but it was hard for me to follow
I do things my way, and I pay a high price
When I think back on the old man and the bus ride
Now that I am older, I can see he was right

Another hot one out on highway 11
This is my life and it's what I've chosen to do
There's no free ride
No one said it'd be easy
The old man told me this and my son I'm telling it to you

Days turn to minutes and minutes to memories
Life sweeps away the dreams that we have planned
You are the young and you are the future
So suck it in and tough it out
And be the best you can"