Fernando Ortega Old Girl
Every day
She will wander
Down the road
Back from town
Past all your houses
With their pretty lights
And their pretty rooms
Every day, all alone
Down from the canyon
To the shops and cafes,
Looking for coffee
And a word or two
She would have with you.
Have you ever seen her there
With no shoes
Stubborn as she goes
On and on,
Do you know her face?
An old girl,
Tangles in her hair,
She will turn your pity down,
Turn it right around,
Old girl.
Weathered girl,
An old blanket
For a shawl, for a sleeve
Wrapped all around her
With her little dress
And her hard feet
Have you ever seen her there
With no shoes
Stubborn as she goes
On and on?
Heaven only knows
Where she's been
Or the world she's in.
She will turn your pity down
Turn away and frown,
Old girl.
An old girl,
Heaven only knows
Where she's been
Or why she walks alone
On and on,
Or when she's had a friend.
She may have a prayer for you,
She can read you too,
Old girl
