Yolo County Line

She pawned the wedding ring
that he'd left behind
then split from Angel's Camp
the day she turned 25.
Left her sister there,
with a habit and a child.
Told herself she wouldn't cry till the Yolo County line.

All the way back home
All the way back home
Yolo County Line

She was laughing up a storm
when she arrived.
Guess the screen door set her off,
took her by surprise.
Her daddy took her in his arms
so relieved to see her smile.
She was safer on this side of the Yolo County Line.

All the way back home
All the way back home
Yolo County Line

Now, the music I have for this stops there, and I think it works just great: a tight, moody, and somewhat unconventional pop song. But the traditionalist in me keeps thinking there may need to be another verse: maybe a switch to first person, the introduction of another character, someone to undermine the sense of safety established in that second verse. It just seems too static as it is. On the other hand, I like the unabashed optimism of it as it stands right now. It's a friggin' happy ending! I never write like that. Maybe that's why I want to do something to fuck it up: my cynical reflexes are kicking in.

I keep thinking that some creepy guy, maybe an old, weird boyfriend or neighbor, was watching her return. He's getting his plan together, and soon he'll be invading her life in some unpleasant way. I'm not thinking anything too dramatic, maybe even just some unwanted attention, but something that says: hey, sweetheart, you are never safe from the messy parts of life. You can't run away, you can't go home. Shit happens, and you have to deal with it.