E B
She left a lipstick letter on the mirror shattered on the bathroom floor.
E
All I could put back together was never see me no more.
A F#m
Took all her clothes but one red dress, the one she knows I like the best.
E B E
All I could do was clean up the mess, and wonder where she'd gone.
E B
I had a sky-blue rag top Mustang, a 1964.
E
She drove it off into the night til it just wouldn't go no more.
A F#m
She caught a ride on into town, bought some gas and laid the top down.
E B E
Then she burned that pony to the ground on the desert in New Mexico.
Chorus
B E
When Rita leaves, Rita's gone.
B E
She gave me every chance a man could want.
A
I've never known a love so strong,
E A
Or so crazy when she's been done wrong.
B E
When Rita leaves, Rita's gone.
Solo: E B E A F#m E B E
E B
I put a call into her mamasita, back in El Paso.
E
She said she got the story from Rita on her way to Mexico.
A F#m
Her mama knew I was taking it hard, said she was sorry about my car.
E B
She said "You're lucky all she broke was your heart
E
You better just let her go."
Chorus
B E
When Rita leaves, Rita's gone.
B E
She gave me every chance a man could want.
A
I've never known a love so strong
E A
Or so crazy when she's been done wrong.
B E
When Rita leaves, Rita's gone.
E
She never gave me a chance to explain.
A F#m
Hell I guess it doesn't much matter now anyway.
B E
When Rita leaves, Rita's gone.
B E
When Rita leaves, Rita's gone.