On the way to California See my sister Carolina Looking out on South Dakota At a field of gladiolas Gonna sell it in the summer Leave behind the floods and winters Letting go of what they suffered Let it fall away like rain across the plains From a payphone on a corner Making plans for our departure I could wish we'd rush right over Looking back over my shoulder Cold December weather Not keeping us together It's New Years Eve forever We're flying down the turnpike in the night Looking out to the horizon Anyone could see the swelling of your heart All the lights that shine before you Looks so helpless, and so far to see Someone's always running faster Towards the anchor that you need You forget again and ask her Why the light, it had to leave An echo in a footstep, a whisper from a portrait Shows us all the stars you see