 |
| CC Image courtesy of azmichelle |
ARIZONA
You chose a
road, a road you knew was long
And you
found it hard, as hard as hell
Yes, you
knew somewhere that you should not go
That you had
no call to leave alone
It’s a long
way to the USA
I’m sittin’ in Tuscon, Arizona
Remember how they said ‘Get Back’?
That’s exactly what I want to do now
Get out on the track that takes me home
I discovered I’d been living in a dreamtime
And I had to see the songs I’ve sung
I had to see those towns as they really are
And I came across Tonopah – and it’s a hole!
But they’ve blue skies in Arizona
And they’ve got a desert that goes on forever
to Mexico
Ain’t you
been north lately?
Walked in
your own backyard lately?
Checked out
your own desert lately?
No.
Some will
tell you don’t waste your money boy
They’ll tell
you it’s just too far
Some will
tell you you gotta travel boy
They’ll tell
you you gotta travel far
You know it’s
hard to please everyone
Some will
tell you that it’s all right here
They may be
right but still I go
I discovered
They’ve got a desert that goes on forever
to Mexico
They’ll tell
you don’t waste your talents boy
They’ll tell
you don’t abuse your charms
You chose a
road, a road you knew was long
And you
found it hard, as hard as hell
But it’s a
long long way to the grave
(© M Coghlan 1990)
Commentary
I
remember waiting to check in for the flight out to the US and for the first
time in my life being afraid of what might happen while I was off travelling
far away. Why? Because I now had a child and I felt guilty leaving him. I felt
like I was shirking my responsibilities, and that I shouldn't put myself in risky situations beyond my control. And as the lyrics tell, I spent much
of the time wishing I was home. But I'm glad I went!
