When Rita Leaves - Delbert McClinton

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