"Or so you wrote" - that just kills me. So much meaning in those few words.
It sounds to me like her lover has gone on a long road trip, and they had a plan for her to meet him to see the Painted Desert. But the Painted Desert is not just a place, it's also a time of year - it refers to the wildflowers that bloom after the winter rains. Thus, "I'm sure the rain has ended, the blooms have gone".
To her, it seems that their relationship may have faded like the flowers. Also, his letters are a one-way communication. She can't write to him since she doesn't know exactly where he is. ("I haven't read a word from you since Phoenix or Tucson.") She can only sing this song.
"Or so you wrote" - that just kills me. So much meaning in those few words.
It sounds to me like her lover has gone on a long road trip, and they had a plan for her to meet him to see the Painted Desert. But the Painted Desert is not just a place, it's also a time of year - it refers to the wildflowers that bloom after the winter rains. Thus, "I'm sure the rain has ended, the blooms have gone".
To her, it seems that their relationship may have faded like the flowers. Also, his letters are a one-way communication. She can't write to him since she doesn't know exactly where he is. ("I haven't read a word from you since Phoenix or Tucson.") She can only sing this song.