Lyrics When Rita Leaves - Delbert McClinton

When Rita Leaves

She left a lipstick letter on the mirror, shattered on the bathroom floor
All I could put back together was, «never see me no more.»
Took all her clothes, but one red dress
The one she knows I like the best
All I could do was clean up the mess and wonder where she had gone
I had a sky blue ragtop Mustang, 1964
She drove it off into the night 'til it just wouldn’t go no more
She caught a ride on into town
Bought some gas and laid the top down
She burned that pony to the ground on the desert in New Mexico
When Rita leaves, Rita’s gone
She gave me every chance a man could want
I’ve never known a love so strong
Or so crazy when she’s been done wrong
When Rita leaves, Rita’s gone
I put a call into her Mamasita back in El Paso
She said she got the story from Rita on her way to Mexico
Her Mama knew I was takin' it hard
Said she was sorry about my car
She said you’re lucky all she broke was your heart
Better just let her go When Rita leaves, Rita’s gone
She gave me every chance a man could want
I’ve never known a love so strong
Or so crazy when she’s been done wrong
When Rita leaves, Rita’s gone