[Verse 1]
By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be risin'
She'll find the note that I left hanging on her door
She'll laugh when she reads the part that says I'm leavin'
'Cause I've left that girl so many times before

[Verse 2]
By the time I make Albuquerque she'll be workin'
She'll prob'ly stop at lunch and give me a call
But she'll hear that empty phone keep on ringin'
Off the wall, that's all

[Verse 3]
By the time I make Oklahoma, she'll be sleepin'
She'll turn softly and call my name out low
And she'll cry to think that I would really leave her
But time and time again I tried to tell her so
She didn't know that I would really go

[Outro]
She just didn't know
Tried, tried, tried to tell her so
(By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be sleepin')
She didn't think that I might go
(By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be sleepin')
Oh no, I tried to tell her so
(By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be sleepin')
I just tried, tried, tried
(By the time I get to Phoenix she'll be sleepin')