Afford to Pretend

so it seems this two lane became a four lane
and now they're working on eight
and I half hope before too long
that they obliterate
every strip of these familiar fields
this new asphalt is blinding my eyes
and right now I'm so poor that I can't even afford
to pretend I'm fine
cause I can take me out of here
and move me halfway across the world
but these roads belong to a time
when I swore I'd always be your girl
and I can't even afford to pretend
the horizon's wavering from the hunger or the heat
cause it really ain't that hot yet
and I've had enough to eat
and i am so afraid you're gonna stone me
and I never wanted to be a martyr
can someone please explain to me why after all this time
it just keeps getting harder
and it's the heat that makes me faint
it's the heat that makes me flush
it's the heat that makes me sick to my stomach
and keeps my voice to a low low hush
and all the traffic is leaving town
and I'm the only one still headed west
and the gold rush is long since done
and I can't even say I did my best
but it doesn't matter now
cause what's done can't be undone
so I'll keep this red curtain pulled round my face
and when this song is done
I'll quietly close the lid of the case
pack up my guitar
and run