Rita Wrote A Letter

I really don’t know how I’m talking 
Six feet down and under the clay 
The laws of nature forbid it 
But I was never good with rules anyway 
The day I walked out of prison 
I knew that I was still in stir 
For the crime committed I was still doing time 
Behind the walls between me and her 

Rita wrote a letter 
I keep it with me every day 
Rita wrote a letter 
And this is what she had to say 
She said, ‘Joe I’m really sorry 
But me and Dan, our love is here to stay 
With the kids it’s getting better 
And now a little baby’s on the way’ 

Well, they took me back on at the restaurant 
But the new cook there had stolen my game 
They put me on the dishes and the pots and pans 
I was happy being busy again 
And every night when I came home 
With my back and feet all aching sore 
I‘d lay there in Mary’s spare room 
Tossing ‘til the break of dawn 

Oh, Rita wrote a letter   
One you don’t want to get from your wife 
When Rita writes a letter 
The pen is sharper than the knife 
She said, ‘Joe, I gave you good chances 
But half a year turned into two 
You could never hold your temper 
And you always made it all about you’ 

Oh, the phone calls they started to dwindle 
Once they moved further up the coast 
Those silences that dragged on forever 
I couldn’t find the words I needed the most 
One day I went to see an old friend 
And I brought a little package home 
For old times’ sake sweet oblivion 
But some things you shouldn’t do alone 

Yeah, Rita wrote a letter 
I’m still hugging it under the clay 
Rita wrote a letter 
Deep down I know it’s better this way 
And maybe she and Dan feel guilty 
And the children sometimes cry at night 
But I made my bed, I’m lying in it 
And I know they’re gonna be alright 

Oh, Rita wrote a letter 
I will always love her 
Be the ghost above her 
Hover all around her 
But Dan, I don’t forgive you 
Oh, I didn’t mean to say that 
It’s just my mind it plays up 
Multiplies each matter