She Shouldn't Have to Leave Texas

She sits outside the mechanic's in the hot afternoon
She knows her man gets off work sometime soon
She don't know what he'd say
Or if he'd even let her stay
Or just toss her like a ragdoll round the room

The old man smudges grease on the door of her car
The oily print of his thumb in the shape of a heart
She smiles and takes the keys
Slides her suitcase over the seat
And breathes out a sigh of relief when the engine starts

She shouldn't have to leave Texas
And go on the run
For the border of New Mexico
Chasing the sun
You can't call it home if you have to leave to survive
She shouldn't have to leave Texas
She shouldn't have to leave Texas behind

A child catches her reflection in the mirror
It's her face but it's not her face coming in clear
She pulls a razor over the blonde
Like she's defusing a bomb
And wonders if she'll ever make it out of here

She shouldn't have to leave Texas
For some place new
But when she makes it to May graduation
She knows what to do
You can't call it home if you have to leave to survive
She shouldn't have to leave Texas
She shouldn't have to leave Texas behind

She dresses like a boy to avoid ridicule
Her girlfriend waits for her by the backyard pool
They talk about homework and band
And Maria tightly holds onto her hand
And she takes a deep breath when they get to the door of her school

She shouldn't have to leave Texas
For anywhere else
She's a lone star daughter
She just wants to live as herself
You can't call it home if you have to leave to
Survive
She shouldn't have to leave Texas
She shouldn't have to leave Texas behind