There’s a greyhound bus
Leavin’ the great Northwest
Takin’ her tonight
Back down south to Texas
She’s been dancing’ on tables
To pay rent and be able
To just get by and maybe stay clean.

Abilene, Abilene
Abilene, Abilene.

Well her daddy’d get drunk
Then he’d hit her hard
And her mama’d lie in bed
High on pills and talkin’ to God
But like her beautiful tattoos
These old memories she can’t lose
Since she ran away at fifteen.

Abilene, Abilene
There’s a town ahead that you’ve never seen
Maybe it’s better if you get off there and try to
Forget everything
Abilene.

Starin’ out the window
At the long cold night
Ahead on the horizon
Is another string of bright lights
She’s dreamin’ of a man she’s goin’ to meet
In a bar on an Austin street
Maybe this one won’t be so mean.

Abilene, Abilene
There’s a town ahead that you’ve never seen
And maybe it’s better if you get off there and try to
Forget everything
Abilene.

In a Texas bar there’s a man sittin’ alone
Thinkin’ of a girl he swore he’d wait there for
But he’s drinkin’ beers and he’s feelin’ old
Rememberin’ every lie he’s told
‘Til he changes his mind and he leaves.

Abilene, Abilene
There’s a town ahead that you’ve never seen
Maybe it’s better if you get off there and try to
Forget everything
Abilene, Abilene
Oh Abilene, Abilene.