"Back of the Bottom Drawer" Lyrics

In the back of the bottom drawer
Of the dresser by our bed
Is a box of odds and ends
That I have always kept
But the man who sleeps beside me
Doesn't know it's even there
Little pieces of my past
That I shouldn't have to share.

A napkin that is stained with time
Has a poem on it that didn't quite rhyme
But it made me cry
And a Dear Jane letter from a different guy
He broke up with me and told me
I'm not always right
And a stolen key from on old hotel room door
In the back of the bottom drawer.

I dont keep these things
'Cause I'm longin' to go back
I keep them because I wanna stay right where I'm at
I'm reminded of my rights and wrongs
I dont wanna mess this up
But I wouldn't know where I belong
Without this box of stuff.

A birthday card from my first boyfriend
He signed it I love you so I gave in
Yea we went too far in his daddy's car
And those mardi gras beads from '98
We danced all night stayed out so late
We thought we were stars
Closin' down the bars
That champaign was cheap
But still I got that cork
In the back of the bottom drawer.

I'm not tryin' to hide these things
From the man I love today
But I'm a better woman for him
Thanks to my yesterdays.

So now I try to give more than I take
And I bite my tongue fight the urge to say
It's my way or no way at all
And now I cherish love a whole lot more
'Cause of what's in the back of the bottom drawer...