Lyrics James McMurtry

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

'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

'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

'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