[Verse 1]
On the Civic Center lawn, my life was threatened by a swan
Twelve years later, picnic gear, I have my first date at that pond
It's a tale of love and pa**ion, but this song ain't for a girl
It's about the greatest hometown in this stupid, messed up world
I used to hedge my lyrics, it's a scary thing to do
Telling people how you're feeling to a dilettantish tune
But when I see that grapefruit sunset through my neighbor's tree
I wanna tell the world the beauty of this desert dream
[Chorus 1]
Not a branch along the family tree that lives away from me
And every block and every scene has got a memory
The last home of the cowboy and the new frontier of art
Phoenix is a bear trap and it's gone and caught my heart
It's gonna k** me to leave Arizona
[Verse 2]
The kindhearted Midwest may make us look like dicks
But compared to LA pricks, us desert folks are nice sh**
We're not a perfect place, but when we're good we're right on point
Now Sheriff Joe stuck in court and those in need can smoke a joint
Got hippies in Sedona, got ghosts in old Jerome
Up on the Payson rim my grandpa built a second home
Jimmy's rocking out with Squeegee, we got goddam Frank Lloyd Wright
And there's never been a time where I can't close my eyes at night cuz'
[Chorus 2]
Not a branch along the family tree that lives away from me
And every block and every scene has got a memory
The last home of the cowboy and the new frontier of art
Phoenix is a bear trap and it's gone and caught my heart
It's gonna k** me to leave Arizona
[Bridge]
Pack my sh** into a U-Haul truck
Ship my casket off to Omaha
Land of Saddle Creek and math on bugs
It ain't heaven but it's close enough
May I rest in peace
[Chorus 3]
She lives just off the 202, her dad the 101
Too many scenes have got her ghost there's just nowhere to run
I gave her all my favorite spots and left for myself none
But there's a way to end this pain that's not too permanent
It's gonna k** me to leave Arizona
Thank god it's gonna k** me to leave Arizona