Everything (But One Thing)

I met her the summer before, on the Fourth of July, outside the café store
She was feeding six packs into the back of an Isuzu
I drove past four times or so, before I finally pulled in and said hello
And that was all it took in that little town

When the summer was over
I followed her down to the desert, where she had a job
I didn’t have a whole lot going on
I drove down on Halloween, she met me at the gate with a kiss and a key
The moment I touched her, I knew I’d done something wrong

Because everything, but one thing, was perfect
I just didn’t know how to bring it up
The view was good, and the weather was perfect, and the rent was free
But love shimmered in the distance, with water and tall palm trees

We made love while dinner cooled on the stove
Somehow, I still managed to burn my tongue
When the dishes were dried and put away
I turned on the radio, a moth to the flame
While she pulled petals off a flower in the back of her mind

Because everything, but one thing, was perfect
But that one thing was the only thing worth the wait
Sometimes, when she’d lean in to kiss me, I could see it cross her face
And I knew I could never prove what she wanted me to say

At night, I-40 in the distance glowed to life
Garlanding the desert with white head- and red taillights
One night, she caught me at the window
Praying on the high beams of a semi, and she said
What are you thinking about?

I said, I know you’ve been waiting for me to love you
I’ve been waiting to feel the flush myself
But our love must be a mirage, and now’s the time to turn around
If it were real, I swear, we’d be there by now

Now everything but one thing is perfect
I left her behind, I know she’ll be better off
Now I’ve got a full day’s drive, and I left all my favorite tapes behind
Maybe now’s the time to write that song