Thoroughfare Lyrics by Ethel Cain
You fell in love with America when you were twelve years old
And by seventeen you knew you had to see it all
You loved your dad and the love he had for your mother so
You had to get out and go chasing its sweet call
I met you there in Texas somewhere on the thoroughfare
On the side of the road in some torn up clothes with a pistol in my pocket
I didn’t trust no one but you said, “Baby, don’t run, I’ll take you anywhere”
So I hopped right in, outta luck to spend, and at least your truck beats walking
And you said, “Hey, do you wanna see the West with me?
‘Cause love’s out there and I can’t leave it be”
And I said, “Honey, love’s never meant much to me
But I’ll come with you if you’re sure it’s what you need”
So we made off for California to find your lover, driving day and night
And every small town diner saw our faces at least once or twice
But in these motel rooms, I started to see you differently
‘Cause for the first time since I was a child, I could see a man who wasn’t angry
And he said, “It’s been a long damn time since I left Florida
No one left to leave, and no one left to love
But now that I met you, I finally know just where I’m heading”
And we found Heaven in time where your Western sunshine met my deep Southern wet
And you got lost in it and yet you found yourself, hard-pressed for air and sweating
And you said, “Hey, do you wanna see the West with me?
(Do you wanna see the West with me?)
‘Cause love’s out there and I can’t leave it be”
(I can’t leave it, I can’t leave it)
And I said, “Honey, love’s never meant that much to me (Nothing much)
But I’ll come with you if you’re sure it’s what you need”
And once we reached the coast you said, “End of the line
We finally reached the edge, after all this time
I didn’t find my love but I still made it this far without it”
But then you turned to me and stared into me deep
And said, “Well maybe not, ’cause look at what I’ve got
You might not be my love, but baby, but I doubt it”
And you said, “Hey, do you wanna see the West with me?
(Do you wanna see the West with me?)
‘Cause love’s out there and I can’t leave it be”
(I can’t leave it, I can’t leave it)
And I said, “Honey, love’s never meant that much to me, oh (Nothing much)
But I’ll come with you if you’re sure it’s what you need”
‘Cause in your pickup truck with all of your dumb luck
Is the only place I think I’d ever wanna be