Delbert McClinton – When Rita Leaves Lyrics

She left a lipstick letter on the mirror
shattered on the bathroom floor.
All I could put back together was
"...never see me no more."

Took all her clothes but one red dress,
the one she knows I like the best.
All I could do was clean up the mess
and wonder where she had gone.

I had a sky-blue, ragtop Mustang, 1964.
She drove it off into the night
til it just wouldn't go no more.
She caught a ride on into town,
Bought some gas and laid the top down,
Then she burned that pony to the ground
on the desert in New Mexico.

When Rita leaves, Rita's gone.
She gave me every chance a man could want.
I've never known a love so strong
Or so crazy when she's been done wrong.
When Rita leaves, Rita's gone.

I put a call in to her mamasita,
back in El Paso.
She said she got the story from Rita
on her way to Mexico.
Her mama knew I was takin' it hard;
Said she was sorry about my car.
She said, "You're lucky all she broke
was your heart.
You better just let her go."

When Rita leaves, Rita's gone.
She gave me every chance a man could want.
I've never known a love so strong
Or so crazy when she's been done wrong.
When Rita leaves, Rita's gone.