James McMurtry
Save Yourself
You couldn't get what you were after
After all was said and done
Amid the echoes of the screams and the laughter
Cracking the blinds to the noonday sun
Running out of room, tugging at the tether
Old desires on the closet shelf
You read between the lines until the lines ran
Together
Somehow had to save yourself
Chorus
'Cause it don't come back once it's gone
Now you wonder why you had to wait so long
Wasn't no sense being where you don't belong
Got to save yourself
Now your bad boy runs you ragged
But the nice guy bores you flat to tears
He sends you flowers and birthday cards
He tries so hard and he's out of here
'Cause it's all you can handle just to stay okay
You don't need nobody's pain
You've got no room for baggage
Passengers must now de-plane
Chorus
'Cause it don't come back once it's gone
Now you wonder why you had to wait so long
Wasn't no sense being where you don't belong
Got to save yourself
Your new job keeps you busy
The old car runs alright
The hot wind off the concrete
Sometimes keeps you up at night
The lights go off in the building
And you're sitting there alone
'Cause the girls and boys you run with
Have all up and gone home
So you're sifting through the ashes
Getting way down dark and deep
You've got your life all figured out
But you still don't get much sleep
Chorus
'Cause it don't come back once it's gone
Now you wonder why you had to wait so long
Wasn't no sense being where you don't belong
Got to save yourself