Thoroughfare (song)

**"Thoroughfare"** is a song by Ethel Cain, written and produced by herself. It is featured as the seventh track from Cain's debut studio album, *Preacher's Daughter*.

## Background

In June 2022, Ethel shared a demo version of the song. The last change to the track file was made in June 2021. On December 31, 2022, an instrumental and a capella of the song leaked.

## Theme

Act Two of the album begins with this song. Ethel, having run away from home, meets charming Isaiah, who offers her a ride. Together, they drive from Texas to California. Over the course of their trip, they find themselves attracted to one another.

Heading west, Cain and her companion “find heaven” over meals in small-town diners and nights in motel rooms, where the former encounters “for the first time since [she] was a child…a man who wasn’t angry.”

## Official versions

* Album version — 9:28
	+ Instrumental version — 9:27
	+ A capella — 9:27
* Demo version — 6:13

## Lyrics

### Album version

[Verse 1]

You fell in love with America when you were twelve years old

And by seventeen, you knew you had to see it all

You loved your dad and the love he had for your mother, so

You had to get out and go chasin' its sweet call

[Verse 2]

I met you there in Texas somewhere on the thoroughfare

On the side of the road in some torn-up clothes with a pistol in my pocket

I didn't trust no one, but you said, "Baby, don't run, I'll take you anywhere"

So I hopped right in, outta luck to spend, and at least your truck beats walking

[Chorus]

And you said, "Hey, do you wanna see the west with me?

'Cause love's out there and I can't leave it be"

And I said, "Honey, love's never meant much to me

But I'll come with you if you're sure it's what you need"

[Verse 3]

So we made off for California

To find your lover, drivin' day and night

And every small town diner

Saw our faces at least once or twice

But in these motel rooms

I started to see you differently, oh

'Cause for the first time since I was a child

I could see a man who wasn't angry

[Verse 4]

And he said, "It's been a long damn time since I left Florida

No one left to leave and no one left to love

But now that I met you, I finally know just where I'm headin'"

And we found heaven in time where your western sunshine

Met my deep southern wet

And you got lost in it and yet you found yourself

Hard-pressed for air and sweatin'

[Chorus]

And you said, "Hey, do you wanna see the west with me?

(Do you wanna see the west with me?)

'Cause love's out there and I can't leave it be"

(I can't leave it, I can't leave it)

And I said, "Honey, love's never meant that much to me

(Nothing much)

But I'll come with you if you're sure it's what you need"

[Bridge]

And once we reached the coast, you said, "End of the line

We finally reached the edge after all this time

I didn't find my love, but I still made it this far without it"

And then you turned to me and stared into me deep

And said, "Well, maybe not 'cause look at what I've got

You might not be my love, but, baby, I doubt it"

[Chorus]

And you said, "Hey, do you wanna see the west with me?

'Cause love's out there and I can't leave it be"

(I can't leave it, I can't leave it)

And I said, "Honey, love's never meant that much to me

But I'll come with you if you're sure it's what you need"

[Outro]

'Cause in your pickup truck with all of your dumb luck is the only place I think I'd ever wanna be

[Tambourine- and scat-led jam session]

### Demo version

[Verse 1]

You fell in love with America when you were twelve years old

And by seventeen, you knew you had to see it all

You loved your dad and the love he had for your mother, so

You had to get out and go chasin' its sweet call

[Verse 2]

I met you there in Texas somewhere on the thoroughfare

On the side of the road in some torn-up clothes and a pistol in my pocket

I didn't trust no one, but you said, "Baby, don't run, I'll take you anywhere"

So I hopped right in, outta fucks to give, 'cause at least your truck beats walking

[Chorus]

And you said, "Hey, do you wanna see the west with me?

'Cause love's out there and I can't leave it be"

And I said, "Honey, love's never meant much to me

But I'll come with you if you're sure it's what you need"

[Verse 3]

So we made off for California

To find your lover, drivin' day and night

And every small town diner

Saw our faces at least once or twice

But in these motel rooms

I started to see you differently

'Cause for the first time since I was a child

I could see a man who wasn't angry

[Verse 4]

And it's been a long damn time since I left Florida

No one left to leave and no one left to love

But now that I met you, I finally know just where I'm headin'

And we found heaven in time where your western sunshine

Met my deep southern wet

And you got lost in it and yet you found yourself

Hard-pressed for air and sweatin'

[Chorus]

And you said, "Hey, do you wanna see the west with me?

'Cause love's out there and I can't leave it be"

And I said, "Honey, love's never meant that much to me

But I'll come with you if you're sure it's what you need"

[Bridge]

And once we reached the coast, you said, "End of the line

We finally reached the edge after all this time

I didn't find my love, but I still made it this far without it"

And then you turned to me and stared into me deep

And said, "Well, maybe not 'cause look at what I've got

You might not be my love, but, baby, I doubt it"

[Chorus]

And you said, "Hey, do you wanna see the west with me?

'Cause love's out there and it's beautiful

And it's something I'd wish you'd receive"

And I said, "Honey, sounds like a final plan to me"

[Outro]

'Cause in your pickup truck with all of your dumb luck is the only place I think I'd ever wanna be

1. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/Ethelcain/comments/vaov29/preachers\_daughter\_original\_demos/
2. ↑ https://genius.com/Ethel-cain-thoroughfare-lyrics
3. ↑ https://www.them.us/story/ethel-cain-american-nightmare-preachers-daughter-interview