Reba McEntire – Cactus In A Coffee Can (Guitar)

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She had the window and I had the aisle

    Em7                                              Cadd9
She looked 25, but she was shaking like a child when we took off

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I looked over and clutched in her hand

           Em7
There was a cactus in a coffee can

        Cadd9
She was holding that thing like it was all she had

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She smiled at me, but I could tell she was sad

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Somewhere over Denver, I asked her her name

Em7                                         Cadd9
She said "Elena," and told me she came from Santa Fe

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She ordered a drink and a wall came down

    Em7
She started talking and pain poured out

    Cadd9
She told me a story I'll never forget

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She had me in tears when she looked at me and said

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 "My mama's first love was crack

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She made her living lying on her back

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 And she gave me away on the day that I was born"

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She said, "The last ten years I spent tracking her down

   Em7                                                   Cadd9
It don't seem fair that when I finally found her she was almost gone

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We had two weeks together to laugh and to cry

Em
Two weeks to say hello and goodbye

    Cadd9
She gave me this cactus, said, "It's kinda like me

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It'll hurt you to hold it, but it blooms every spring"

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She said, "I'm on my way back to New Mexico

          Em7
Was gonna scatter these ashes where the desert winds blow

Cadd9
 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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 "My mama was a tortured soul

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I still love her even though

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 Oh, she gave me away on the day I was born"

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The plane touched down and we both got off

Em7
I took her hand and said, "I'm sorry for your loss"

Cadd9
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

Em7
We met as strangers and parted as friends

      Cadd9
As we waved goodbye, I was sure of one thing

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There'll be a flower on that cactus come next spring