Fireline Road
James McMurtry
Intro Am
Am
My name is Alice Walker, they never told me why
G
I’m not named for anybody; it’s a name out of the sky
F
They thought it was pretty I guess, way back when
Am
I’ll change it someday. I like to pretend,
I’m Just a visitor here, like on one of those shows,
G
In a house full of people I don’t hardly know But we'll
F
all get to home in a week or so
Am
Back to real life
Am
And I’m picking up the carpet in the corner where I crash
G
I’m too tired to separate the pennies from the trash
F
And I don’t guess it matters even why Jesus died
Am
I can tell you about sins
Am
We got this duplex up on Fire Line Road
G
It’s way out from town, so the rent’s pretty low,
F
Not much more than a cinder block cell, just like the
Am
one next door, and the next one as well
Am
And the bus don’t run out here but three times a day
G
The 7-11, it’s a full mile away
F
And there’s a car in the yard, mostly rust and dents
Am
We moved here in it, but it hasn’t run since
Chorus
G Am G Am
Forget my name, can you forget my face
G Am G Am
Gonna lose myself in some finer place
G Am G Am
Finer Places, where I’ll go
G Am F
I’ll leave no trace out on Fire Line Road
Am
And there’s a pile of daddy’s quick-picks scattered on the
G
floor among the half empty bottles, a chair against the door
F
In case he comes home drinkin’, with lovin on his mind
Am
I’d never let it happen, but that don’t stop him tryin’
My sister weren’t so lucky, he got to her too soon
G
She never saw it coming, he knew just what to do
F
to keep her silent. I swear to god I’ll kill him if I can
Am
said she made him do it, after all he’s just a man
Chorus
G Am G Am
Forget my name, can you forget my face
G Am G Am
Gonna lose myself in some finer place
G Am G Am
Finer Places, where I’ll go
G Am F
I’ll leave no trace out on Fire Line Road
Instrumental (chorus chords played with a glass slide
somewhere past the 12th fret)
G Am G Am G Am G Am G Am G Am G Am F
Am
Now she snorts that crank, and stares at the phone
G
She ain’t big as a minute, just skin on bone
F
She bites her nails right down to the quick
Am
And they’ve taken her babies, and they won’t give them back
G
And I know she loves them and God knows she tries,
But when you’re that far down you’re just going to get high
F
It’s like eating or breathing to the rest of us
Am
She can’t even feel bad without the stuff
Chorus
G Am G Am
Forget my name, can you forget my face
G Am G Am
Gonna lose myself in some finer place
G Am G Am
Finer Places, where I’ll go
G Am F
I’ll leave no trace out on Fire Line Road
Am
My name is Alice Walker, they never told me why
