Reba McEntire - Cactus in a coffee can

^GShe had the window and I had the aisle She ^Em7looked 25, but she was shaking like a child when ^Cadd9we took off I ^Glooked over and clutched in her hand There was a^Em7 cactus in a coffee can She was ^Cadd9holding that thing like it was all she had She ^Dsmiled at me, but I could tell she was sad^{G Em7 Cadd9 D}

Some^Gwhere over Denver, I asked her her name ^Em7She said "Elena," and told me she came from ^Cadd9Santa Fe She ^Gordered a drink and a wall came down She ^Em7started talking and pain poured out She ^Cadd9told me a story I'll never forget She ^Dhad me in tears when she looked at me and said

^Cadd9 "My mama's first ^Glove was crack She ^Cadd9made her living lying ^Gon her back ^Cadd9 And she gave ^Gme away on ^Bmthe day that I ^Cadd9was born"

She said, "The ^Glast ten years I spent tracking her down It ^Em7don't seem fair that when I finally found her she was ^Cadd9almost gone We had two ^Gweeks together to laugh and to cry ^EmTwo weeks to say hello and goodbye She ^Cadd9gave me this cactus, said, "It's kinda like me It'll ^Dhurt you to hold it, but it blooms every sprin^Gg" ^{Em7 Cadd9 D}

She said, "I'm ^Gon my way back to New Mexico Was gonna ^Em7scatter these ashes where the desert winds blow ^Cadd9 But I came up with a better plan I'm gonna ^Dkeep 'em in the bottom of this coffee can"

^Cadd9 "My mama was a ^Gtortured soul ^Cadd9I still love her ^Geven though ^Cadd9 Oh, she gave ^Gme away on the ^Bmday I was ^Cadd9born"

The ^Gplane touched down and we both got off ^Em7I took her hand and said, "I'm sorry for your loss" ^Cadd9She said, "Thanks for listening, and for being here I've been ^Dwantin' to talk about for so many years" Now ^GI'll probably never see Elena again ^Em7We met as strangers and parted as friends As we ^Cadd9waved goodbye, I was sure of one thing There'll be a ^Dflower on that cactus ^D7come next spring