Back of the Bottom Drawer

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 from 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

In a Dear Jane letter
From a different guy
He broke up with me
And he told me I'm not always right

And a stolen key
From an old hotel room door
In the back of the bottom drawer

I don't keep these things
'Cause I'm longing to go back
I keep them because I wanna stay
Right where I'm at

I'm reminded of my rights and wrongs
I don't 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
Yeah, 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
Closing down the bars
That champagne was cheap

But still I've got that cork
In the back of the bottom drawer

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

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