G     320033
Cadd9 x32033
Em7   022033

[Intro]
G  Em7  Cadd9  D

[Verse 1]
G
She had the window and I had the aisle
    Em7                                              Cadd9
She looked 25, but she was shaking like a child when we took off
  G
I looked over and clutched in her hand
           Em7
There was a cactus in a coffee can
        Cadd9
She was holding that thing like it was all she had
    D                                         G  Em7  Cadd9  D
She smiled at me, but I could tell she was sad

[Verse 2]
    G
Somewhere over Denver, I asked her her name
Em7                                         Cadd9
She said "Elena," and told me she came from Santa Fe
    G
She ordered a drink and a wall came down
    Em7
She started talking and pain poured out
    Cadd9
She told me a story I'll never forget
    D
She had me in tears when she looked at me and said

[Chorus]
Cadd9             G
 "My mama's first love was crack
    Cadd9                 G
She made her living lying on her back
Cadd9         G          Bm             Cadd9
 And she gave me away on the day that I was born"

[Verse 3]
               G
She said, "The last ten years I spent tracking her down
   Em7                                                   Cadd9
It don't seem fair that when I finally found her she was almost gone
           G
We had two weeks together to laugh and to cry
Em
Two weeks to say hello and goodbye
    Cadd9
She gave me this cactus, said, "It's kinda like me
      D                                             G  Em7  Cadd9  D
It'll hurt you to hold it, but it blooms every spring"

[Verse 4]
               G
She said, "I'm on my way back to New Mexico
          Em7
Was gonna scatter these ashes where the desert winds blow
Cadd9
 But I came up with a better plan
          D
I'm gonna keep 'em in the bottom of this coffee can"

[Chorus]
Cadd9           G
 "My mama was a tortured soul
Cadd9            G
I still love her even though
Cadd9         G              Bm        Cadd9
 Oh, she gave me away on the day I was born"

[Verse 5]
    G
The plane touched down and we both got off
Em7
I took her hand and said, "I'm sorry for your loss"
Cadd9
She said, "Thanks for listening, and for being here
          D
I've been wantin' to talk about for so many years"
    G
Now I'll probably never see Elena again
Em7
We met as strangers and parted as friends
      Cadd9
As we waved goodbye, I was sure of one thing
              D                     D7
There'll be a flower on that cactus come next spring