Arizona Rain

This is a song about a young girl who is homeless and hitch hiking across the country with no specific place to go.  She sits in a diner in Arizona gazing out the window.  Her demeanor and expression shows a poor woman who had been hurt emotionally and probably physically.  She’s on her own with no destination in particular.  The song states that whatever she’s running away from will most likely catch up to her again; meaning, if she was running away from a hostile relationship, she would probably end up in another one.  The narrator in the song tries to tell her there has to be a better alternative than hitch hiking across the country.  She sits staring out the window having a drink of liquor to drown her pain and to give her strength to go on.  

When I was living in Colorado I picked up a young woman hitchhiking.  She had little money, if any and had no place in particular to go.  I took her to a diner and bought her some lunch and then I took her as far as the entrance to the freeway where she wanted to go.  As I watched her head back on the road again I felt so sorry for her.  I was new to Colorado at the time and had no place to offer her and no knowledge of any agency to help her.  I was afraid for her safety but there was little I could do to help.  I still think of her from time to time, especially when I listen or play this song.  I regret just dropping her off.  I should have tried to convince her to go to the police or to ask them where she might find help but I didn’t.  I just hope she found help somewhere.  

If you or someone you know needs help or are homeless, here are some agencies that can help:

• https://www.heifer.org/support/index.html
• https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/programs/runaway-homeless-youth
• https://www.covenanthouse.org
• https://www.hudexchange.info/homelessness-assistance/resources-for-homeless-youth
• https://alternativesforgirls.org/programs/shelter
• https://www.acf.hhs.gov/fysb/faq/homeless-fysb-help