(paradise by the sea)

well there’s sparklin’ angels on your fire-escape tonight
they line them up for you trying to keep you safe
but with them fire alley burglars on a midnight vamp
you lost your heart on main street to a beautiful tramp
that’s all right, i don’t mind
`cause i got (you got) a love so fine
a love so fine, me and my baby
a love so fine, me and my baby
a love so fine

the rat’s traps are filled with soul crusaders
everybody’s popping and hopping and jumping
at little melvin and the invaders
you’re out on the floor and you can’t get up
your baby’s out there dancing and struttin’ that continental strut
she looks so good, she looks so fine (she blows your mind)
oh we (you) got a love so fine
a love so fine
a love so fine
a love so fine

everybody’s reeling when the band hits the ceiling
don’t you know you just wanna go
the boys start (joint gets) rockin’, your knees start knockin’
everybody party, go
let’s go

the bar’s closed down (it’s 3 o’clock and the bar’s closed)
you walk to the shady side of town all alone (well you walk along with your)
papa’s screaming at you, he wants some cash (baby to the dirty side of town)
mama’s chewing you (me) off about hanging out with (alley) trash
that’s all right, oh you don’t mind
’cause you’ve got a love so fine, oh me and my baby
a love so fine
a love so fine
a love so fine

tonight my bag is packed
tomorrow i’ll walk these tracks
that’ll lead me across the border

tomorrow my love and i
will sleep ‘neath auburn skies
somewhere across the border

we’ll leave behind my dear
the pain and sadness we found here
and we’ll drink from the bravo’s muddy waters

where the sky grows grey and white
we’ll meet on the other side
there across the border

for you i’ll build a house
high up on a grassy hill
somewhere across the border

where pain and memory
pain and memory have been stilled
there across the border

and sweet blossoms fill the air
pastures of gold and green
roll down into cool clear waters

and in your arms ‘neath open skies
i’ll kiss the sorrow from your eyes
there across the border

tonight we’ll sing the songs
i’ll dream of you my corazon
and tomorrow my heart will be strong

and may the saints’ blessings and grace
carry me safely into your arms
there across the border

for what are we
without hope in our hearts
that someday we’ll drink from god’s blessed waters

and eat the fruit from the vine
i know love and fortune will be mine
somewhere across the border

(ry cooder/john hiatt/jim dickinson)

there’s a place, so i’ve been told,
every street is paved with gold
and it’s just across the borderline
and when it’s time to take your turn
there’s a lesson that you must learn
you may lose more than you’ll ever hope to find.

(chorus)
and when you reach that broken promised land
and all your dreams slip though your hand
you have learned it’s too late to change your mind
cause you pay the price to come so far
just to wind up where you are
and you’re still just across the borderline.

up and down the rio grande
a thousand foot prints in the sand
reveal a secret no one can define
the river rolls on like a breath
in between our life and death
tell me who is next to cross that borderline.

(chorus)
and when you reach that broken promised land
and all your dreams slip though your hand
you’ll know it’s too late to change your mind
cause you pay the price to come so far
just to wind up where you are
and you’re still just across the borderline.

well don’t move
why don’t you listen to what i’m saying
and hey you
you better get up if you plan to be staying
get loose
you got to listen to what the band is playing
oh tonight
there’s action in the street all night
we’re bopping to the big beat, go
get up off your seat and roll

at school
the girls you know their dancing, mister ’s just my speed
and hey cool
if action is the thing you need
well don’t fool
the kid’s satisfaction guaranteed
oh tonight
there’s action in the street all night
we’re bopping to the big beat, go
get up off your seat and roll

well hey man
yeah don’t let the little girl sigh
understand
if you just move your body side to side
raise your hand
shout until you’re satisfied
oh tonight
there’s action in the street all night
we’re bopping to the big beat, go
get up off your seat and roll

in the summer that i was baptized
my father held me to his side
as they put me to the water
he said how on that day i cried
we were prisoners of love, a love in chains
he was standin’ in the door i was standin’ in the rain
with the same hot blood burning in our veins
adam raised a cain

all of the old faces
ask you why you’re back
they fit you with position
and the keys to your daddy’s cadillac
in the darkness of your room
your mother calls you by your true name
you remember the faces, the places, the names
you know it’s never over it’s relentless as the rain
adam raised a cain

in the bible cain slew abel
and east of eden he was cast
you’re born into this life paying
for the sins of somebody else’s past
daddy worked his whole life for nothing but the pain
now he walks these empty rooms looking for something to blame
you inherit the sins, you inherit the flames
adam raised a cain

lost but not forgotten, from the dark heart of a dream