"The Safe Side" and "Candyland" by James McMurtry, 1992
From 32 years ago. eloquent words, bouncing off thick skulls
All the News that’s fit to sing, 1992. Texas-style. What was once Journalism is now History
Down in Piedras Negras you gotta watch yourself
There's a whole lotta hungry people lookin to share some wealth
And when the oilfield's busted and the peso takes a dive
Stay off the side streets if you wanna come back alive
Yo no busca nada I'm just standin here
Mindin my own business, gonna get back outta here
Back to the safe side
Back to the safe side
And at the base of the barstool there's a drain in the floor
You better not go in there, if you don't know what that's for
It's no place to take your lady, she'll get the evil eye
Sizin up their prospects, sharpin up their knives
No me gusta nada, yo no queiro ver
Once I get across this river, never gonna go back there
Stayin on the safe side
Stayin on the safe side
Yo no fuma mota yo no quiero ver
Once I getacross this river, never gonna go back there
Up in San Antonio all the pretty people know
They better stay off of the west side where the black tar flows
They hide in their sheltered enclaves up around Olmos Park
They got their own policeman so they can stay out way past dark
Back down in Piedras Negras, the children play with dirt
We keep our pistols loaded so we don't get hurt
No importa a nadie, it's always been that way
Never gonna get no different, long as we got our say
Stay on the safe side
Stay on the safe side
No me gusta nada, it's always been that way
Never gonna get no different long as we got our way
Stay on the safe side
Stay on the safe side
Stay on the safe side
Stay on the safe sideis this “on-topic”? when has this ever not been on topic?
Ugly pictures on the wall
Traffic outbound slowing to a crawl
Evening papers on the manicured lawns
It never ceases it just goes on and on
The people next door don't mind at all
They've got 'em a spiked fence ten feet tall
(chorus)
In the candyland
In the candyland
Gray squirrel running down the telephone wire
Kids around the poolside screaming like cats on fire
Cats on fire chasing after the ice cream van
But that circus music's got to be hell on the ice
cream man
He clips his roach and he hauls his load
Taking his half out of the middle of the road
(chorus x2)
The heels grow tall and the skirts hang low
There could be something here but they just won't let
it show
(chorus)
Same old neighborhood with a colder feel
Just the curbs and drains left over from the new deal
Smooth young faces on the TV news
And They can read copy they don't have to be real
Thinking back on the finer days
Remembering the pendulum swings both ways
Chorus (repeat to fade)