Eli’s

He’s a rodeo remnant - a has been cowboy – a left over eight second star
He busted brocs - in the western circuit – ‘till one busted him hard
Now he’s pitchin’ hay - cleaning stalls - anything just to make some dough
Drinking away the pain - followin’ the only road that he knows

She once loved a cowboy - who drove in the night - chasin’ a restless man’s dream
Her heart never healed - over twenty some years - and never will, so it seems
She still tending bar - down at Eli’s – but she spends most of her time home alone
Though once in a while - she’s been known to take another cowboy home

Now the rodeo’s back in town, that dark feelin’s have come around
She knows it be a long shift down at Eli’s tonight

It’s quite now - out by the trailers - as he pulls his good boots on
All the young studs - the half-crippled bull riders - well, they’ve already gone
It takes him longer - his stiff joints fighting - he pulls a sleeve down over some scars
Dressin’ up just enough - to knock a few down at the nearest bar

Well at that bar …
The juke box is blasting - the girls are dancing - stompin’ their boots on the ground
The circuit riders are buyin’ - beers for the ladies - and she pourin’ everyone another round
And she cusses like the devil - when some drunk cowpoke – spills his pitcher on the floor
After all these years - she doesn’t want to work at Eli's anymore

He swears to himself - not too much whiskey this time - as he walks in the door
But he knows it will likely be a late one at Eli's tonight

He’s lookin’ at the floor – while he fumbles for some cash - she asks “whats you drinkin, hombre”
When he looks up their eyes lock - and the whole damn bar just fades away
In the noisy silence - two worn down victims – stare at each other in this waterin’ hole
They’re both surprised to find they still have a shred of their long lost souls

She pours him three fingers - asks about his buckle – a trophy from his glory days
He tells her his stories - about his travel’ life - and his vagabond ways
How he wishes it were different – he’d just like to slow down - she touches his hand and smiles
“This one’s on me” she says - praying that he’ll stay for awhile

The rodeo’s back in town - but her dark feelin’ can’t be found
And she won’t be goin’ home - alone - from Eli’s tonight
They won’t be goin’ home …. alone … from Eli's tonight