Mary Chapin Carpenter – Hometown Girl

(Mary Chapin Carpenter)

Years ago in my hometown I was a headstrong girl and a heartstrong one

We’d ride all summer with the top rolled down through the sleepy streets of that

Jersey town

Now I knew girls when I was sixteen

Could make a smart boy stutter, turn a nice boy mean

And the boys made the girls into homecoming queens

Married each other instead of their dreams

These days I’m mostly out on my own

Looking for someplace that I can call home

Late at night, or just before dawn

I pretend you’re with me now

It never seemed that hard before

What happened to that hometown girl?

The seasons changed in my hometown

The way they changed in yours

The windows opened up to the Spring

Like every spring before

And I ran with boys who weren’t like you

I was young but somehow I knew

The difference between a man and a fool

Sometimes I think that could have been you

These days I’m mostly out on my own

Looking for someplace that I can call home

Late at night, or just before dawn

I pretend you’re with me now

It never seemed that hard before

What happened to that hometown girl?

Hometown girls are like hometown dreams

Some start fading, others stay keen

I won’t forget you but I’ll let you be

Love never was that kind to me

Late at night or just before down

I pretend you’re with me now

You had your madness and you had your charm

But only when your heart allowed

And my heart just won’t allow no more

What happened to that hometown girl?