West Coast

Late July heat in the back of my throat
Stopped at a diner for a postcard and a Coke
Put your feet on the dash, told me, “Drive 'til it hurts”
So we did — through the silence, through the dirt

[Chorus]
And the wind pulled my hair like it had something to say
Like it knew that I'd been running every goddamn day
And the sunset hit my face like a kiss I never earned
So cliché, but totally worth the drive, I’ve learned
I let the ocean touch my skin like it knew my name
I let go of who I was, let the west coast change
me

[Verse 2]
Old soul songs on a scratchy cassette
Every lyric hit like a secret I hadn’t confessed
You laughed when I cried at the sight of the waves
Said, “Babe, it’s just water,” but you looked away

I was barefoot in the sand, chain-smoking your lies
Thought maybe out here, they wouldn’t feel so tight
You danced like a ghost on the edge of the shore
And I knew then I didn’t need you anymore

[Bridge – slow down, almost whispered]
I used to think freedom was a person or a place
Turns out it’s a feeling that steals your breath and stays
Long after the road signs blur, and the tank runs dry
Long after the motel lights and the bloodshot sky

[Final Chorus – soft, but rising]
And the wind pulled my hair like it had something to say
Like it knew that I'd been running every goddamn day
And the sunset hit my face like a kiss I never earned
So cliché, but totally worth the drive, I’ve learned
I let the ocean touch my skin like it knew my name
I let go of who I was, let the west coast change
me

[Outro – fading voice, with surf and vinyl crackle behind it]
Yeah, the west coast changed me.
Maybe that’s why I’ll never leave.

2193/7500

[Verse 1] You said the coast was calling, I said I’d never been Traced my finger down a map and let the engine sing Cracked leather seats, dreams in the glovebox Burned all my plans just to see what I’m not Late July heat in the back of my throat Stopped at a diner for a postcard and a Coke Put your feet on the dash, told me, “Drive 'til it hurts” So we did — through the silence, through the dirt [Chorus] And the wind pulled my hair like it had something to say Like it knew that I'd been running every goddamn day And the sunset hit my face like a kiss I never earned So cliché, but totally worth the drive, I’ve learned I let the ocean touch my skin like it knew my name I let go of who I was, let the west coast change me [Verse 2] Old soul songs on a scratchy cassette Every lyric hit like a secret I hadn’t confessed You laughed when I cried at the sight of the waves Said, “Babe, it’s just water,” but you looked away I was barefoot in the sand, chain-smoking your lies Thought maybe out here, they wouldn’t feel so tight You danced like a ghost on the edge of the shore And I knew then I didn’t need you anymore [Chorus] And the wind pulled my hair like it had something to say Like it knew that I'd been running every goddamn day And the sunset hit my face like a kiss I never earned So cliché, but totally worth the drive, I’ve learned I let the ocean touch my skin like it knew my name I let go of who I was, let the west coast change me [Bridge – slow down, almost whispered] I used to think freedom was a person or a place Turns out it’s a feeling that steals your breath and stays Long after the road signs blur, and the tank runs dry Long after the motel lights and the bloodshot sky [Final Chorus – soft, but rising] And the wind pulled my hair like it had something to say Like it knew that I'd been running every goddamn day And the sunset hit my face like a kiss I never earned So cliché, but totally worth the drive, I’ve learned I let the ocean touch my skin like it knew my name I let go of who I was, let the west coast change me [Outro – fading voice, with surf and vinyl crackle behind it] Yeah, the west coast changed me. Maybe that’s why I’ll never leave.

0/500