I hear Mariachi static on my radio
And the tubes they glow in the dark
And I'm there with her in Ensenada
And I'm here in Echo Park

[Chorus]
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town

Well, I'm sittin' here playing solitaire
With my pearl-handled deck
The county won't give me no more methadone
They cut off your welfare check

[Chorus]

Well, I pawned my Smith-Corona
And I went to meet my man
He hangs out down on Alvarado Street
By the Pioneer chicken stand

[Chorus: x2]

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Warren Zevon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them

Comments from YouTube:

BEAR

5y↑74

that is its own particular kind of lonely right there! bless all who endure it!
its like spending christmas alone and strung out, 7-11hotdogs and mountain dew for dinner knowin mom is just about to set the table with one empty seat! that was in 97, ive made every one sice!.....clean!

Jose Nivlag

Congratulations!

Lindsey Bailey

Keep going strong god bless u

Irene Max

2y↑2

Dear Bear, thank you for sharing. You have put an entire 12 step chair into a few sentences. Powerful. All the best

patricia S

3y↑2

stay well. you deserve better than that hell you were in.

BEAR

5y↑6

@Edward Catano right on man. You too!

2 More Replies...

eddie provencio

4y↑19

nobody else like Dwight and Flaco....Mexican and proud....no else comes close...ex military and I know every would love it!!!! Estan chingones Compa...from West Texas!!!!!🖒🖒🖒👊👊

HR Hamada

yes, but the other parts of the group were Los Lobos. the Boys from East L.A.

MrAzrancher

6y↑49

This song is fantastic, flaco can perform magic with his accordion. He and Dwight are great together. I have actually been to the "pioneer" chicken stand on Alvarado and on Sunset blvd. Thanks for posting this....

Loretta Sulin

MrAzrancher Indeed, it's just a good feeling. ..

LoginErrorAgain

5y↑88

One of my favorite Zevon songs. This is with out a doubt the best version. Dwight & Flaco own it.

Danny C. Jewell

''Live n Learn''

TC Smith

2y↑1

OMG I first heard it on an LP by a Canadian folk singer Murray McLauchlan in the early 70's...later saw Kris and Rita Coolidge perform it in a concert in Lubbock TX. this is an awesome rendition.

Sultan Vinegar

LoginErrorAgain most definitely!!!!

Dirk Yarborough

Thanks for reminding me. This is beautiful.

Margit Reiner

5y↑2

Really good version, except the one of Willy de Will!

1 More Replies...

maynardmoleman

7y↑20

I love it when talented musicians give Warren Zevon his props.....Nice version done very lovingly....

Thomas McFadden

5y↑15

Not surprised Dwight and Flacco pulled this one off. Zevon, like Dwight, was a true musical wordsmith.

Blair Stan Sinclair

4y↑17

Flaco a master of his instrument !!

Princesslaya104 PZ

3y↑11

I love This Song Dwight Yoakam has such a beautiful Voice and Flaco's playing is amazing AaaWhoAAA

4aceshigh1957

2 minstrels..

Barbara Lilly

43w↑2

Dwight killing it. What a voice. He can put his spin on any music. God given talented. Thank God Dwight never have up.

Rosa Vasquez-Trevino

8y↑5

boy do I love to hear Dwight Yoakam sing:)

Appalachian American

5y↑16

not wrote,sang or played like this anymore. music now has no soul you can't feel it's heart it doesn't bleed,it doesn't breathe, it doesn't live

dmedranovera

1y↑3

Damn those accordion riffs carry chills with them

Morag MacGregor

6y↑20

This is BRILLIANT. I love you, Dwight. I love too, Flaco (a LOT right this minute).

Dionysus incarnate

36w↑1

It's a beautiful heartbreak isn't it?

Viva Flaco

Joseph M.

3y↑16

I always thought Linda Ronstadt did the best version of this......UNTIL I HEARD DWIGHT SING THIS SONG.......amazing.

Dionysus incarnate

36w

Linda smashed it. But dwight and flaco brought soul to it

Mick Kollins

41w

I really thought I'd heard all the versions out there..UNTIl this one! Dwight's inflections of Warren's words and Flaquito bringing that Olivera Street accordion...perfectamente!

Kevin Thompson

Warren or Warren and Jackson Browne. This one is good too.

John r Walker

14w↑1

I'm in Ensenada now and can't stop singing this song.Dwight does a Great version of it.

Judy D

32w↑2

Dwight Can Sing Anything - Amazing

Morgan Evans

7y↑22

Squeeze it Flaco!!

Brent Thornton

4y↑3

i love this version of the song, but gg allins will always be closest to the truth.

John Hutchins

4y↑13

RIP Warren! We miss ye!

ainthurtinnobody

6y↑28

The road to hell is lit with bright lights. How can something sung and played so beautifully be so dangerous. If you have this weakness or tendencies you know what I mean. It's a strange blend of feelings and emotions. Be careful. Don't fall because the floor in this case is a long way off and the journey is hell. Also, who knows if that might just be the time when there is no bounce or recovery off the bottom but only a continuous fall into oblivion. Just todays unpleasant thought for those who know.

Matthew Gabbard

Truth brother

orgone conclusion

3y↑1

Idiots and assholes do heroin. No one else.

Shane Balucan

Bob Robert
M

Bob Robert

5y↑1

+ainthurtinnobody Chasing the dragon has many meanings one of which is this strange attraction this particular drug has even when you know its eventual outcome and surely those first few doses and their produced state are part of this chase. You know the chase that can never again attain that particular state. Something very odd and strange in the psyche of mankind that allows this to happen. So as the above response says be careful and do not let this song feed
your attraction. Be aware and let it go it's not worth it. This dragon bites and destroys individuals, families and whole communities. All over a little fading pleasure that will soon become a living hell. Do not chase the dragon. He is an illusion that can never be caught. Even if for a few moments you think you have him he will vanish into thin air and you will be left with nothing but a desire. A desire that can never be satisfied. Cruel and unusual punishment.

John Bruno

5y↑17

Love flaco Jimenez there really awesome, love them when they play with the Mavericks also.

Dawn Burke

I love him too ! AWEsome playing !!!

seph2801

4y↑9

When Dwight and Flaco teams up or shares a song : the end result is flawless.

Berto Chavez

5w↑1

I wonder if Dwight Yoakam nose in a Marty Robbins song

Bangkok O.G.

6y↑4

Just listening to this makes me drug sick.
Amazing piece of music.

edmundo oliver

4y↑2

i thought the pioneer chicken was on sunset & echo park

Princesslaya104 PZ

3y↑7

He sings it so beautifully, his voice melts my heart, I love his style, I love my man Dwight Yoakam,

todd11561

8y↑3

Warren Zevon wrote this ... not Gram Parsons....

Laroseblanche Duchesne

3y↑2

this song awakens in me the presence of my father, the eternal source leaves its tears shed in my heart ...

Gloria Jimenez

5y↑1

got to listen to this every day. I have been to the area he sings about.

El Cranky

6y↑9

Great cover of the classic Warren Zevon song!

Connie S

It's missing the verse about the baby that died.

Scott Castruita

7y↑1

One of my favorites. Dwight you are awesome brother.

Nancy Wolfe

8y↑1

This is beautiful!!!

Ken Brennan

5y↑3

just brilliant!

jazzijazz harry

8y↑1

exelente musica y vos la he escuchado varis veses

ellesetta

8y↑6

WARREN ZEVON wrote this...one of his many truly brilliant songs. He was a poet, a songwriter, and those of us who love his music miss him greatly. I love the way Dwight sings this.

Dan

4y↑5

RIP Warren

bill schimko

8y↑1

TIMELESS !!!

unclebill68

8y↑2

A great Warren Zevon song.

Heath P.

1y↑1

I love this song, but this cover is hard to listen to. Makes me cringe. I even enjoy Dwight Yoakam. Just something about this one. :(((

Helen Hovey

8y↑1

Love this song. It's a classic, also reminds me of my late husband, Tim.

Maria Vasquez

7y↑4

I just love his music thats all I have to say. There is no need to say anything more!!!

lula4561

3y↑2

This song is BRILLIANT Iv just found it on utube cant stop playing it ...Dwight play an sing more with Flaco ya both are Brill .From LULA IN ENGLAND .Thank you for the Post.xx

Dixie White

7y↑3

Beautiful!

Neil Ladd

3y↑1

Pretty song about a sad way to live, and die. Thanks for the post.

Ted Vanko

6y↑5

Great version!

David Gzesh

4y↑1

This has been a favorite Zevon song for about 30 years, never heard this cover before. I like both Dwight and Flaco, nice

J R Hidalgo

3y↑1

I used to run into him at Astro Burgers on York and Figueroa in Highland Park, cool guy

fabian martinez

51w↑1

El country tex mex no sería lo mismo sin el aporte de la dinastía Jiménez...larga vida al flaco y a Dwight Yoakam

Tom Mcfadden

2y↑1

Life...it’ll kill ya. Warren Zevon. R.I.P.

Anne Mieke Van Vliet

4y↑2

This song is also beautiful by Willy DeVille

4100susie

4y↑2

Love the lyrics and the music (accordion). Harmonious.

Siggi FÄHR

5y↑2

Great ! Wonderful ! Bellissima ! Super !

natanel Rodrigues

6y↑3

beautiful song!

cracker_ zac

2y↑1

GG allin anybody?!?

Margit Reiner

5y↑2

Wonderful Flaco forever! 🇦🇹💫✨🎻🌺🎸✨💫🇦🇹

ese hombre

7y↑3

Warren Zevon wrote the song. You are here through the Internet then it doesn't take much to do a search to find out who wrote this song.

Princesslaya104 PZ

I love the way my Dwight Yoakam sings it

Miguel Martinez

"Solitaire with my pearl-handled deck"... spent a lot of nights and days contemplating that

Elaine Smith

Dwight is awesome with this song just love him

Branko Margeta

7y↑3

Wowwwww .... good thing ... go to my private collection ....

Marty Isbell

2y↑1

Awesome song performed by two of the best..

Marc Solomon

8y↑1

just a great song thanks dwight

Gloria Jimenez

4y↑1

love Dwight, Mr. sexy lips

sunshineonadogsass

8y↑1

best of all versions

Chuck G

2y↑2

A more unique combination can hardly be found anywhere in any genre.
Andale, mi amigos, andale!

Manny Venegas

25w

Yeeeeeee haaaaawwwwŵ!
Yea buddy!

Honky Tonk Man

7y↑3

Beautiful.

Larry Niederstadt

5y↑4

dwight -flaco #1

Barbara Gaunt

Best song ever ! You and Flaco are amazing on Carmelita !!!!!

Anthonyexplostion Mayothebestnameever

4y↑2

love it

William Seward

3y↑1

A singer named Danny Santos does a great cover of this too. I kind of like his better, I think. But it was the first version I heard.

Bonnie Buck

I would love to have seen them together, Yes, Dwight is HOT, he is so good, but, I love Flaco, would give anything to see him in person, I say Dwight lest week in Little Rock, He is still so good.

Linda Conder

3y↑1

Beautifully done!

Antonio Gemini

3y↑1

hold me tighter I think I'm sinking down in the out skirts of town Anthony

Matthew Moran

5y↑2

My youngest (a singer) is part of the current music scene in Echo Park. We see people everyday who may be living this song.. love the area, the color, the people.. and Zevon captured it (of course).. Dwight & Flaco embodied it.

Cathy W

Perfect voice for great song.

Ross Schiefelbein

5y↑4

They don't come any better!

Osiris The Dead

When it's my time, I truly want to go out with my Lady. Lady Heroin, she never lies.

Gramophone Plovdiv

3y↑1

greetings from WIM UYL .

Gary Vuorela

6y↑1

GReat song Dwight,Peace GARYV.

Tommy Berglin

2y↑1

This is just great! As we tink in Sweden!

norman ayles

3y↑4

The true sadness of this,song strikes my,soul. Ive been there

Kevin Thompson

I actually find this to be a happy song. The awareness and beauty...

Sorin Boicu

5y↑1

Is broken me💥

adriana leemhuis

It's the story of my life !! (Johnny R.)

Tom Mcfadden

2y↑1

One of Warren Zevon’s best. Lovely version by Dwight and the great Flaco Jimenez.

Gloria Jimenez

4y↑1

I love you Dwight!

Valerie Thompson

tread lightly.

RUTHLESS BEANER

My dealer is in town I love my pura pura on the outskirts of town Anthony saying best

Lupita H

1y↑2

Es lo mäximo , y con Flaquito , que voz , jamàs me canzo de escucharlos , y ahora en :: 10 / 20 / 2019 , espero que Flaquito este muy bièn tdavia 🎸🎹❤️🕊🎸🎹❤️🕊🎸🎹🕊❤️

fabian martinez

51w

Ta viejito el flaquito pero aún sus dedos llenos de virtuosismo princesa... bendiciones para ud

Kathy Kredit

3y↑1

where do I get this song? kat

Antonio Gemini

3y↑1

Hold me tighter I think I'm sinking down pura pura my candy no shame I love carmalita Anthony

John Locker

Dwight is always blowing me away the pride of Bakersfield

Cynthia Jimenez

3y↑1

yep...

Rollin' So.Cal.

6y↑6

This is a great song, I lived on Alvarado st, and in echo park, I know exactly what he's talking about

Avigayil Chana

Graham Parson’s what?

carmen watson

6y↑6

Love tex-mex awesome combination of talent

alan

+tammylinn kilber that is true one of mine to

tammylinn kilber

+alan Cervantes Ry Cooter is one of my all time favorites

alan

6y↑2

Do you like ry cooder he has some good music to

Anchorbaby Dude

7y↑3

I love Pioneer chicken

Loretta Sulin

3y↑1

Let's dance slowly ...

Alice Randall

2y↑2

Love Dwight doesn't matter if he's 30 or 60💕💕💕💕

Milady Virginia

I totally agree

RUTHLESS BEANER

Buena Buena pura pura my mistress love this song Anthony

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