"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" is a popular song written by Jimmy Webb and first recorded by Johnny Rivers in 1965. However, Engelbert Humperdinck's version became more famous when he released it in 1968. The song tells the story of a man who is leaving his partner behind as he embarks on a journey. Each verse describes the different stages of his trip, starting from Phoenix, Arizona, then Albuquerque, New Mexico, and finally Oklahoma, before he reaches his destination. The lyrics suggest that this man has a pattern of leaving and returning to his partner, as he mentions leaving her multiple times before. He anticipates that she will find the note he left on the door and laugh when she reads it, as she has probably experienced this situation before. The repetitive leaving and returning might have caused her to doubt if he would really go this time. As the man progresses on his journey, he envisions his partner still being at work, picturing her stopping for lunch and contemplating calling him. However, the phone will only keep ringing, indicating his absence. He then imagines her asleep in Oklahoma, where she may softly call his name and cry, as she realizes that he has indeed left her. The underlying theme of the song revolves around the man's attempts to explain to his partner that he is leaving for good this time. He acknowledges that he has tried to convey this message previously but states that she just couldn't understand or believe it. Overall, "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" portrays a complex relationship where one person struggles with a fear of commitment, repeatedly leaving and returning, while the other person finds it difficult to accept or comprehend the finality of the departures.
