Goodnight America

Goodnight America - Mary Chapin Carpenter

I'm standing at a traffic light somewhere in west L A

Waiting for the sign to change then

I'll be on my way

The noise the heat the crush of cars

Just robs me of my nerve

Then someone yells and blasts their horn

And pins me to the curb

I'm a stranger here

No one you would know

My ship has not come in

But I keep hoping though

And I keep looking past the sun that sets above

Saying to myself goodnight America

And I am driving into Houston on a rain-slicked Texas road

Land so flat and sky so dark I say a prayer to float

Should all at once the San Jacinto surge beyond its banks

Like Noah reaching higher ground I'd offer up my thanks

'Cause I'm a stranger here

No one you would know

I'm just passing through I am therefore I go

The moon rose in the east but now it's right above

As I say aloud goodnight America

Midnight it's hard to see the stars

Out on a highway near Atlanta

Full of strip malls & used cars

First light just roll your window down and smell

The salty air perfume of Charleston town

I'm looking with a pilgrim's eyes

Upon some promised land

I'm dreaming with my heart outstretched

As if it were my hand

And I'll hit the Cross Bronx just in time to

Beat the rush hour lock

But I got no clue what time it is

From this world's busted clock

I'm a stranger here no one you would know

I'm from somewhere else isn't everybody though

I don't know where I'll be when the sun comes up

But till then sweet dreams goodnight America