Matches
Sammy Kershaw Lyrics

We met at the broken spoke restaurant and lounge
I first met you at the rundown location of Broken Spoke where it was a combination restaurant and lounge.

I lit your cigarette and then you wrote your number down
After lighting your cigarette, you asked me for my number and wrote it down on the inside of the matchbook cover.

On the inside of a matchbook that was laying on the bar
You wrote your contact number on an ordinary-looking matchbook that was lying face-down on the counter.

And a fire started burning somewhere in my heart
Right from that moment, I felt an intense flame of affection for you starting to ignite within me.

I didn't see it coming, guess I didn't read the signs
I didn't anticipate the heartbreak that awaited me; I retrospectively realize that I didn't recognize the subtle hints that you would hurt me later on.

I just never thought you'd leave me after all this time
Despite spending a considerable amount of time with you, I believed you would always be by my side and could never fathom you leaving me.

But today when I came home my key was hollow in the door
When I returned to our place today, my key failed to turn the lock, indicating that your absence left our home hollow.

And there was nothing but a worn-out book of matches on the floor
Upon entering, the only clue of your departure was a tattered matchbook left lying on the ground.

You took the bed
You took every familiar possession like my bed.

You took the dishes and the car
You took essential household items like the dishes and the car that we shared.

You broke my trust
You broke the bond of trust that I had with you.

You took advantage of my heart
You exploited my love and affection for you.

You left me here
You walked out of our house leaving me behind.

With empty rooms and walls with holes and scars and scratches
The house feels empty and lifeless, marked by the holes, scars, and scratches on the walls.

If I find the strength to burn your memories down
When I summon the courage to move on, I contemplate erasing all memories of you.

At least you left the matches
The only solace I have is that you left behind the matches that would eventually allow me to destroy everything that reminds me of you.

The color's old and faded, the cover's worn and stained
The matchbook cover is discolored, and the pattern has worn out due to frequent use.

But I can still make out the numbers and the heart beside your name
The contact number and a heart symbol you drew beside your name are still visible despite the aged appearance of the matchbook.

Until tonight they only lit a single cigarette
Till now, I only used one of the matches to light a single cigarette.

Now one by one I'm striking them to help me to forget
But now, I'm lighting one match after another to help me forget and overcome the hurt of our separation.

And everybody at the broken spoke thought my crazy story was a joke
Before the breakup, my story of fondness for you seemed absurd and unbelievable to our friends and other frequenters of Broken Spoke.

Now they're out there in the parking lot staring at the smoke
But now, they're all standing in the parking lot, watching the smoke rising as I burn everything that reminds me of you.

Baby all that's left of our love now's ashes
After burning every tangible trace of you in my life, nothing remains of our once-lovely relationship except ashes.

Thank God you left the matches
Despite every betrayal and hurtful act, I'm at least grateful that you left the matches behind that gave me the strength to move on from our loveless association.