From the recording One More Drop
by Austin Kaufmann (2011)
Austin Kaufmann | lead vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica
Tamiko Rothhorn | vocals
Tim Patterson | bass
Dan Moreno | percussion
Austin wrote this song while living in Seoul, South Korea, where he lived and taught English for three years. While living there, he saw a lot of young US service members serving in the military there. This song — a duet — imagines what it must be like in that scenario, in which a young American man and his wife live "half a world away" from each other. It's about trying to keep a long-distance marriage together while separated by "11 Time Zones."
Lyrics
HE:
I’m just a country kid living in the big town,
Caught up by the lights, swept away by the big sound,
And all the pretty girls, the pretty girls,
The pretty girls in high heels.
SHE:
I’m just a country girl. Don’t like the big town.
X-es on the calendar mark my countdown
Till that man of mine, that man of mine,
Till that man of mine comes home.
HE:
I’m a half a world away from everyone I once held
Dear, oh deary me, it’s been eleven months since
I left my pretty wife, my pretty wife,
My pretty wife back in Jacksonville.
SHE:
Well, when he comes home, will things be the same?
What if when he comes home, he can’t see that I’ve changed?
Oh, when he comes home, what if he drives me insane?
When he comes home, will it be the same?
TOGETHER:
Eleven Time Zones won’t break us.
Eleven Time Zones can’t break our will.
Eleven Time Zones won’t break us
But [I’ve/he’s] never felt so far from Jacksonville.
SHE:
I’m just a country girl. Don’t like the big town.
X-es on the calendar mark my countdown,
Till that man of mine, that man of mine,
Till that man of mine comes home.
HE:
I’m just a country kid living in the big town,
Caught up by the lights, swept away by the big sound,
And all the pretty girls, the pretty girls
The pretty girls in high heels.
SHE:
Now, what I’m ‘bout to say, can’t myself believe,
If he didn’t come back I might feel relieved.
I love that man of mine, that man of mine.
But am I ready for that man of mine to come home?
HE:
Oh, when I come home, will things be the same?
What if when I come home, she can’t see that I’ve changed?
Oh, when I come home, what if it's all just mundane?
When I come home, will it be the same?
TOGETHER:
Eleven Time Zones won’t break us
Eleven Time Zones can’t break our will.
Eleven Time Zones won’t break us
But [I’ve/he’s] never felt so far away…
Eleven Time Zones won’t break us
But maybe livin’ in the same one will.
Eleven Time Zones won’t break us
HE: But I’ve never felt so far away from you
SHE: Honey, when you comin’ back to Jacksonville?