That Girl Was Me 

I wrote this song before I decided to write songs, on a business trip to Philadelphia. This encounter happened in the PHL Airport Marriott, and I immediately went up to my room and wrote about 20 verses before I even knew what I was doing. 

 

The hotel store’s harsh bright lights stung my sleepy eyes 

A rumpled refugee from a late night flight 

I grabbed a drink and I gave a ten 

To the girl behind the desk 

Going through the motions late at night 

 

She was out of change so I dug down deep to see what I could find 

A guitar pick, a penny, and a worn down dime 

When she saw that pick she smiled and asked 

If I played guitar, said she’s a 

Singer and wants a moment of my time 

 

And I saw a glowing ember, her passion burning to be free 

And faintly I remembered when once that girl was me 

 

She said “I want my own guitar,” and asked for my advice 

As we talked, I heard her dreams fill up that store 

Her sudden bloom so lit that room 

That it touched me deep inside 

A feeling I’d known but lost years before...so many years before 

 

And I saw a glowing ember, her passion burning to be free 

And now, I could remember when once that girl was me 

 

I know I’ve been lucky 

Made choices I’d make again 

But, I’d be lyin’ to say I wasn’t jealous 

To think those dreams don’t have to end 

 

And I saw a glowing ember, her passion burning to be free 

And I can sure remember when once that girl was me 

Yeah, once that girl was me