By the Time I Get to Phoenix
Love's Departure Journey: Phoenix to Oklahoma
Lyrics
By the time I get to Phoenix
Expresses the starting point of the narrator's journey from Phoenix.
She'll be rising she will find a note that
Anticipates the woman's morning routine as she discovers a note.
I slipped under the door yes, she will
Confirms the act of slipping a note under the door.
And she will laugh as she reads the part
Describes the woman's reaction to the note, including laughter.
That says I'm leaving her this time for good
Reveals the content of the note, stating the narrator's intention to leave for good.
For sure you see I've left that girl
Reflects on the narrator's repeated departures from the same girl.
So many times before yes, I did
Acknowledges the history of leaving the girl on multiple occasions.
By the time I make Albuquerque
Mentions the narrator's next destination, Albuquerque.
I know she'll work in
Implies that the woman will continue with her life in Albuquerque.
And she'll probably stop about at noon
Suggests the woman's potential activities around noon.
And try to give me a call
Indicates the woman's attempt to contact the narrator by phone.
I'd tell she'd just find my old telephone
Describes the futile effort to reach the narrator, emphasizing the ringing phone.
Just ringing, ringing, that's all
Repeats the ringing imagery, highlighting the lack of response.
By the timе my way bus makes Oklahoma
Foresees the narrator's bus passing through Oklahoma.
She'll be sleeping
Implies the woman's sleep during the narrator's journey.
Shе'll turn over softly and call my name
Envisions the woman waking up and calling the narrator's name in solitude.
And she'll cry alone to think
Expresses the woman's emotional distress, realizing the narrator is leaving.
This time he's leaving me for sure, for good
Confirms the woman's fear of the narrator's permanent departure.
For real this time, it's true
Emphasizes the sincerity of the narrator's departure this time.
This time again I tell so
Reiterates the certainty of the narrator's leaving, emphasizing truth.
Good thing about it
Reflects on a positive aspect of the situation, possibly a silver lining.
I do hesitate when I walked out the door
Shares the narrator's hesitation before leaving, suggesting internal conflict.
Didn't mean to look back
Emphasizes the narrator's determination to move forward without looking back.
'Cause I knew this time I'd leave for sure
Explains the narrator's realization that this departure is final.
I gotta keep on moving
Declares the narrator's commitment to continuous movement in life.
Like I never moved before
Expresses the need to find a new and genuine connection.
Gotta find somebody new and true
Reiterates the determination to never return to the previous relationship.
Never return, no
Concludes with a firm decision to avoid going back, emphasizing finality.
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