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Scale: G Major
Time Signature: 4/4
Tempo: 112
Suggested Strumming: DU,DU,DU,DU
c h o r d  z o n e . o r g
[INTRO]

G C G C G D

[VERSE ONE]
G
She had the window and I had the aisle
       Em                                             C
She looked 25, but she was shaking like a child when we took off
G
I looked over and clutched in her hand
            Em
There was a cactus in a coffee can
          C
She was holding that thing like it was all that she had
        D                                   G Em C D
She smiled at me, but I could tell she was sad
 
[VERSE TWO]
            G
Somewhere over Denver, I asked her her name
  Em                                           C   D
She said "Elena," and told me she came from Santa Fe
     G
She ordered a drink and a wall came down
 Em
She started talking and pain poured out
       C
She told me a story I'll never forget
      D
She had me in tears when she looked at me and said
 
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[CHORUS]
C                 G/B
"My mama's first love was crack
Am                         G/B
She made her living lying on her back
C                 G/B          Bm               C
And she gave me away on the day that I was born"
 
[VERSE THREE]
                G
She said, "The last ten years I spent tracking her down
   Em                                                      C         D
It don't seem fair that when I finally found her she was almost gone
        G
We had two weeks together to laugh and to cry
Em
Two weeks to say hello and goodbye
      C
She gave me this cactus, said, 'It's kinda like me
       D                                          G Em C D 
It'll hurt you to hold it, but it blooms every spring'"
 
[VERSE FOUR]
               G
She said, "I'm on my way back to New Mexico
               Em
Was gonna scatter these ashes where the desert winds blow
C
But I came up with a better plan
           D
I'm gonna keep 'em in the bottom of this coffee can"
 
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[CHORUS]
C                G/B
"My mama was a tortured soul
Am                      G/B
I still love her even though
C             G/B              Bm          C
Oh, she gave me away on the day I was born"

[VERSE]
     G
The plane touched down and we both got off
Em
I took her hand and said, "I'm sorry for your loss"
C
She said, "Thanks for listening, and for being here
           D
I've been wantin' to talk about for so many years"

G
Now I'll probably never see Elena again
Em                                        D
We met as strangers and parted as friends
C
As we waved goodbye, I was sure of one thing
         Am                            D          G
There'll be a flower on that cactus come next spring
 
  

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