Classic love story true to his western tx roots. One of my favorites as a story, but I think there are alot of songs that are amazing not even listed on this site. I guess I should figure out how to add them, because I have about 8 REK cd's.
I took three days to drive down one street
The radio on, tuned to the big fleet
Invisible planes are cracking the concrete
That's just what some people say
I put down my blanket on cigarette-butt beach
I saw the old man, he was doing okay
He's making his last stand
On old bottles and cans
'Round there, Calistan way
Used to be sixteen lanes
Used to be Nuevo Spain
Used to be Juan Wayne
Used to be Mexico
Used to be Navajo
Used to be yippy-ay-I-don't-know
Went in from the weather when I got wheezy
I play some Pachinko I play Pachisi
And St. Anne is still making it breezy
In the valley of tar that once was L.A.
And my best friend he's the king of Karaoke
He struck up a chord and he took it away
Out of the pan
And into Japan
'Round there, Calistan way
Used to be sixteen lanes
Used to be Juan Wayne
Used to Mexicain
Used to be Espano Nuevo
Used to Navajo
Used to be yippie-ay-I-don't-know.
The radio on, tuned to the big fleet
Invisible planes are cracking the concrete
That's just what some people say
I put down my blanket on cigarette-butt beach
I saw the old man, he was doing okay
He's making his last stand
On old bottles and cans
'Round there, Calistan way
Used to be sixteen lanes
Used to be Nuevo Spain
Used to be Juan Wayne
Used to be Mexico
Used to be Navajo
Used to be yippy-ay-I-don't-know
Went in from the weather when I got wheezy
I play some Pachinko I play Pachisi
And St. Anne is still making it breezy
In the valley of tar that once was L.A.
And my best friend he's the king of Karaoke
He struck up a chord and he took it away
Out of the pan
And into Japan
'Round there, Calistan way
Used to be sixteen lanes
Used to be Juan Wayne
Used to Mexicain
Used to be Espano Nuevo
Used to Navajo
Used to be yippie-ay-I-don't-know.
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There's a YouTube video where he explains
I wish he'd said more about the more speculative elements (like LA being a valley of tar) but that's what's there.
youtube.com/watch