Song: “All She Left Behind (Redux)”

Behind the Song

I wrote the original back in April. But it felt unfinished.

In the original, the song ends with the heartbroken guy still at the airport. I had wanted him to be driving away and smelling her perfume. But I couldn’t find a way to fit it together.

So I decided to add that scene into a bridge near the end of the song. (I also trimmed the pre-chorus, rewrote the second verse of the second stanza, and made a few other minor changes.)

There’s something lonely about driving home from the airport. And for him, it might be the last time he’s seen her. The only thing he has of her is the smell she left behind, her last touch.

Lyrics

She's standing at the airport
a carry-on in hand.
The world is waiting for her
to say good-bye to her man.

The ring is in his pocket
he asked her on the way.
She said no, you know I'm no good
when I feel I gotta stay.

The porter's pointing at the two-minute sign
the cars are crowding and honking behind
no time for things he never learned to say.
He can only take away

One last touch
for the lonely nights ahead.
One last touch
for the tears he'll never shed.
He asked her for forever
but honey, I'm not that kind
One last touch
is all she left behind.

She promises to call him
once she settles in.
Maybe he can come and visit
she can always use a friend.

He reaches out to hold her
as the seconds slip away.
He knows she'll be the first one
to pull away.

The porter's pointing at the two-minute sign
the cars are crowding and honking behind
no time for things he never learned to say.
He can only take away

One last touch
for the lonely nights ahead.
One last touch
for the tears he'll never shed.
He asked her for forever
but honey, I'm not that kind
One last touch
is all she left behind.

As he drives the lonely freeway
and her plane flies away
he smells the perfume she left on his sleeve
to mark her stay

One last touch
for the lonely nights ahead.
One last touch
for the tears he'll never shed.
He asked her for forever
but honey, I'm not that kind
One last touch
is all she left behind.