Saint Mary of the Woods by James McMurtry Lyrics
[Verse 1]
Where're you goin' with your head hung down?
Papers blowin' through the streets of town
They've already taken all of your posters down
Didn't take 'em long once the orders came down
[Verse 2]
Sunrise off the lake shinin' in your eyes
Shinin' on the wasted and the wise
And all you hear ringin' in your ears are boldfaced lies
That scream like the gulls in that smoke-stained amber sky
[Chorus]
Fly back to the nest if it helps at all
Saint Mary of the Woods in the early fall
Leaves are turnin' on the Wabash now and the children sing for you
They sing a song of your dreams come true
[Instrumental]
[Verse 3]
Where you goin', brandy on your breath?
Bottle's open, spilled across the desk
Snifter's broken, smashed against the wall
Just the way your standin' says it all
[Verse 4]
You hung the sign out: "Please do not disturb"
Driver's waiting out front on the curb
Write it off as one more half-sold show
If they’ve already seen your best they can do without the rest, don't you know?
[Chorus]
Fly back to the nest if it helps at all
Saint Mary of the Woods in the early fall
Leaves are turnin' on the Wabash now and the children sing for you
They sing a song of your dreams come true
Where're you goin' with your head hung down?
Papers blowin' through the streets of town
They've already taken all of your posters down
Didn't take 'em long once the orders came down
[Verse 2]
Sunrise off the lake shinin' in your eyes
Shinin' on the wasted and the wise
And all you hear ringin' in your ears are boldfaced lies
That scream like the gulls in that smoke-stained amber sky
[Chorus]
Fly back to the nest if it helps at all
Saint Mary of the Woods in the early fall
Leaves are turnin' on the Wabash now and the children sing for you
They sing a song of your dreams come true
[Instrumental]
[Verse 3]
Where you goin', brandy on your breath?
Bottle's open, spilled across the desk
Snifter's broken, smashed against the wall
Just the way your standin' says it all
[Verse 4]
You hung the sign out: "Please do not disturb"
Driver's waiting out front on the curb
Write it off as one more half-sold show
If they’ve already seen your best they can do without the rest, don't you know?
[Chorus]
Fly back to the nest if it helps at all
Saint Mary of the Woods in the early fall
Leaves are turnin' on the Wabash now and the children sing for you
They sing a song of your dreams come true