the namesake

I've got a postcard with an old address,
A picture of Houston in a creased-up mess.
Just to remind me that it all went wrong,
Just to beat me up, just to turn me on.

Cigarettes in the glove box, with the classified ads
Ashes and silver worn in to your hands.
"I've got to see you" on a bar napkin,
Gas station quarters, I've got to see you again.

Somewhere there's a letter, that I never sent.
It used to read pretty, now it's empty as
That night in the headlights with the blankets pressed.
Was it something to you baby? Or was it always just

Stray paper
Stray paper
Stray paper...burning in my hands.


-tift merritt
album: tambourine
quite possibly my favorite song.