When Rita Leaves

(album: Nothing Personal - 2001)

She left a lipstick letter on the mirror
Shattered on the bathroom floor
All I could put back together was
"Never see me no more."

Took all her clothes
But one red dress
The one she knows
I like the best

All I could do
Was clean up the mess
And wonder where she had gone

I had a sky blue ragtop Mustang 1964
She drove it off into the night
'Till it just wouldn't go no more

She caught a ride on into town
Bought some gas and laid the top down
She burned that pony to the ground
On the desert in New Mexico

When Rita leaves, Rita's gone
She gave me every chance a man could want
I've never known a love so strong
Or so crazy when she's been done wrong
When Rita leaves, Rita's gone

I put a call into her Mamacita
Back in El Paso
She said she got the story from Rita
On her way to Mexico

Her Mama knew I was taking it hard
Said she was sorry about my car
She said you're lucky
All she broke was your heart
You better just let her go

When Rita leaves, Rita's gone
She gave me every chance a man could want
I've never known a love so strong
Or so crazy when she's been done wrong
When Rita leaves, Rita's gone

She never gave me a chance to explain
Hell, I guess doesn't much matter anyway
When Rita leaves, Rita's gone
When Rita leaves, Rita's gone