Dark Side of Town - Eliza Gilkyson

He was the black sheep of the family

How did mama’s pride and joy

Go from such a precious baby

To the devil’s poster boy

I’m gonna slick my hair like Elvis

Roll my cuffs like Jerry Lee

If the backbeat’s born in hell

Then that’s the place I want to be

Gonna be a midnight rider

Gonna burn my candle down

Followin that drivin' beat

To the dark side of town

From the barrooms of Deep Ellum

To the crashpads on the bay

He spiraled slow and steady

Down a lonely blue hiway

I’m gonna chase my beer with whiskey

Stick a needle in my skin

Gonna celebrate the mystery

Of the hole I’ve fallen in

'Cause I’m a midnite rider

Gonna burn my candle down

Followin' that drivin' beat

To the dark side of town

He loved that funky music

He knew the backroad scenes

Every barbeque and blues band

Between here and New Orleans

He put down the bottle

October '89

Eased up on the throttle

Bought him a little time

But he was a midnite rider

He burned that candle down

Hangin' out on easy does it street

On the dark side of town

Big Al settled down

Along the banks of Onion creek

With a pickup and a hound dog

And a little lucky streak

He nursed that fragile frame

Through the hurricanes and drought

It was a summer wind that came

And blew the candle out

But he was a midnite rider

He burned that candle down

Followin that drivin' beat

To the dark side of town

Oh you midnite rider

I know you’re still around

Hangin' out on easy street

On the dark side of town

End:

On the dark side of town