James McMurtry: Fireline Road

My name is Alice Walker, they never told me why
Im not named for anybody, its a name out of the sky
They thought it was pretty I guess, way back when
Ill change it some day
I like to pretend, Im Just a visitor here
Like on one of those shows
In a house full of people I dont hardly know
But we'll all get to home in a week or so
Back to real life

And Im picking up the carpet in the corner where I crash
Im too tired to separate the pennies from the trash
And I dont guess it matters even why Jesus died
I can tell you about sins

They got this duplex up on Fire Line Road
Its way out from town, so the rents pretty low,
Not much more than a cinder block cell
Just like the one next door
And the next one as well

And the bus dont run out here but three times a day
The 7-11, its a full mile away
And theres a car in the yard, mostly rust and dents
We moved here in it, but it hasnt run since

Forget my name, can you forget my face
Gonna lose myself in some finer place
Finer Places, where Ill go
Ill leave no trace out on Fire Line Road

And theres a pile of daddys quick-picks scattered on the floor
Among the half empty bottles, that chair against the door
In case he comes home drinkin, with lovin on his mind
Id never let it happen, but that dont stop him tryin
My sister werent so lucky, he got to her too soon
She never saw it coming, he knew just what to do
To keep her silent
I swear to god Ill kill him if I can
He said she made him do it, after all hes just a man

Forget my name, can you forget my face
Gonna lose myself in some finer place
Finer Places, where Ill go
Ill leave no trace out on Fire Line Road

Now she snorts that crank, and stares at the phone
She aint big as a minute, just skin on bone
She bites her nails right down to the quick
And theyve taken her babies, and they wont give them back
And I know she loves them and god knows she tries,
But when youre that far down youre just going to get high
Its like eating or breathing to the rest of us
She cant even feel bad without the stuff

Forget my name, can you forget my face
Gonna lose myself in some finer place
Finer Places, where Ill go
And Ill leave no trace out on Fire Line Road

My name is Alice Walker, they never told me why