American Prayer

I smoked when I was 14
When I worked under the table at the local franchised, all-you-can eat
I learned early on that you get more breaks if you smoke cigarettes
So I got my older friend
To go buy me some

And I learned from the public service announcements that were made over the radio
That always seemed to be on
In the back room where we did our drops
That if I kept on smoking then one day
Every part of my body would fail
And I'd eventually lose my life
I kept on smoking anyways

I had a cigarette hanging out of my mouth
When I slammed the dumpster lid down
Almost everyday by then I closed on my own
Took out the trash on my way home
So I always locked the back door
With its weight over my shoulder
But instead of taking the bus back to the apartment
I walked through the dark, gravel behind the rest stop
The one I'd only pass if I took the long way home
I hoped that
if I kept on walking that way
Someday I might find myself
Catching a ride with someone
Headed for anywhere else
And I walked by it
Over and over and over again
Like some uninterrupted American prayer
Because I knew the only way to really get free
Was to hitch a ride

They said it's too dangerous for a girl to walk alone
Bumming smokes and rides from people she don't know
I guess I'd rather go missing