Loaded her car down, now she's headed home
Moving upstairs, downtown
She said, "Goodbye at the cattle guard gate"
Hoping she might find
There's a big, old world waiting just outside
Ahead than what she left behind
Hoping she might find
She's eighteen and it's time she got back to the wood

Ahead than what she left behind
A whole lot more waiting up
Hoping she might find
Then she lost her job at the grocery store
The red notice said, they turned off her telephone
She's getting out while the getting's good
She just got her phone turned on today

Driving on that cross town freeway
So she's packed up a thing or two
A whole lot more waiting up
A whole lot more waiting up
Driving on that two lane road
Ahead than what she left behind
Hoping she would find her a place in the world
She's getting out while the getting's good
She's eighteen and it's time she got out of the wood
And the wolf came knocking at the door
There's nothing left for her to do
All bills paid and a room with a view
He said, "Don't forget to call when you get there girl"
It almost made her daddy cry
With her mind made up and tears in her eyes
Life's too short to be hanging around
She's eighteen and it's time she got out of the wood
Living upstairs, downtown
Driving on that two lane road

Life's too short to be hanging around
She's getting out while the getting's good
Living upstairs, downtown
As she's thumbing through the classifieds
Looking for work and any old job's okay

She's unpacked a dish or two

Life's too short to be hanging around