Somewhere Else to Be
Unnoticed Moments: A Drive-thru Epiphany
Lyrics
I didn't wrap my head in roses
I didn't embrace a superficial or deceptive perspective
I didn't run screaming down the street
I didn't express extreme emotions in public
I didn't drive off jagged cliffs
I didn't engage in reckless or dangerous actions
Or dive in roaring seas
I didn't plunge into turbulent waters
I broke no cage door open
I didn't liberate myself or others from confinement
I set no horses free
I didn't release any restrained energy or passion
The day the girl at the drive-thru window
A seemingly ordinary event caught the speaker's attention
Softly smiled at me
A small, subtle gesture from the drive-thru worker had an impact
Actually, I did nothing
The speaker downplays their actions at the drive-thru
As she handed me a large ice tea
The speaker received a simple item – a large ice tea
An extra packet of ketchup
An additional item, a packet of ketchup, was included
A small bag of onion rings
A small treat, a bag of onion rings, was also given
I didn't even smile back at her
The speaker remained reserved, not reciprocating the smile
I just pulled into the street
The speaker continued their journey without interaction
Searching my rear view mirror
Reflecting on the incident through the rear-view mirror
To catch her eyes on me
The speaker hoped to catch the drive-thru worker's gaze
'Cause there were cars behind me
The presence of other cars influenced the speaker's actions
And I had somewhere else to be
The speaker had other commitments and places to go
Down the street I saw an old man
An observation of an elderly man eating while driving
Eating as he drove
The man was multitasking, possibly inattentive or careless
Running over empty cans
The man inadvertently scattered empty cans on the road
Lying in the road
The consequences of the man's actions were visible
But the billboards near the highway
Advertisements conveyed a positive and lively message
Were full of singing birds
Nature exhibited signs of vitality and renewal
And all the trees were blooming green
The surroundings were vibrant with greenery and life
In their little squares of dirt
Even in small spaces, nature flourished
Every dog chained in every yard
Animals, constrained but expressive, echoed the speaker's feelings
Was howling with me
The collective howling signifies a shared sense of yearning
But I didn't even smile back at her
Similar to earlier, the speaker remained emotionally distant
I just pulled into the street
The speaker continued the journey without further engagement
'Cause there were cars behind me
External factors, represented by cars, dictated the speaker's pace
And I had somewhere else to be
The speaker had commitments elsewhere, emphasizing the fleeting nature of the encounter
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