Dave Alvin

(Blue Horn Toad Music, BMI, Administered by Bug Music)





There’s a greyhound bus 

Leavin’ the great Northwest

Takin’ her tonight 

Back down south to Texas

She’s been dancing’ on tables

To pay rent and be able 

To just get by and maybe stay clean.



Abilene, Abilene

Abilene, Abilene.



Well her daddy’d get drunk

Then he’d hit her hard

And her mama’d lie in bed

High on pills and talkin’ to God

But like her beautiful tattoos

These old memories she can’t lose

Since she ran away at fifteen.



Abilene, Abilene

There’s a town ahead that you’ve never seen

Maybe it’s better if you get off there and try to

Forget everything

Abilene.



Starin’ out the window

At the long cold night

Ahead on the horizon

Is another string of bright lights

She’s dreamin’ of a man she’s goin’ to meet

In a bar on an Austin street

Maybe this one won’t be so mean.



Abilene, Abilene

There’s a town ahead that you’ve never seen

And maybe it’s better if you get off there and try to

Forget everything

Abilene.



In a Texas bar there’s a man sittin’ alone

Thinkin’ of a girl he swore he’d wait there for

But he’s drinkin’ beers and he’s feelin’ old

Rememberin’ every lie he’s told

‘Til he changes his mind and he leaves.



Abilene, Abilene

There’s a town ahead that you’ve never seen

Maybe it’s better if you get off there and try to

Forget everything 

Abilene, Abilene

Oh Abilene, Abilene.