Lyrics Black Snake Mojave Blues - Jam in the Van, Balto

Black Snake Mojave Blues

With the edge of the Mojave curling up into the fire
The highway is a black snake, the back of which I ride
I can feel the city breathing out over the rise
But the engine coughs and shudders, I think the dream’s about to die
With the final mile stretched out, the needle met the dash
I ran hard upon a promise but I couldn’t make it last
Well, I swore there on the hood with the skyline below
That I’d walk among the failures, shipwrecked sailors, and their gold
The undiscovered genius, the thousand secret songs
The million dollar smiles getting tired, getting old
Hey there, baby, don’t you look so sad
The sun is just a big star running out of g-g-g-gas
Warning to the saints not to look into the lights
Nothing there to save you when you’ve sold it to the night
Pawn whatever’s left to lose beneath the palms
For every fire burning, there’s an ocean in the dark
In the dark
Yeah-eah-eah
Burnouts on the blacktop, restless in the heat
Leather under leather, empty veins, and busted strings
Nebraska girl, no longer checking groceries, saving tips
She’s a shadow 'neath the shadow of a phone that never rings
Call the number at the bottom of that faded billboard sign
If you start to get too lonely and you need someone to change your mind
Well, you ghosts that never made it, take your seats behind the bar
Sing your karaoke music in the space between the stars
Just a small town girl, supersonic rocket man
Tell me all about your pain, tell me all about your plans
All you television spirits, can I buy y’all a round?
I’ve played every dive in Portland but I’m kinda new in town
Warning to the saints not to look into the lights
Nothing there to save you when you’ve sold it to the night
Pawn whatever’s left to lose beneath the palms
For every fire burning, there’s an ocean in the dark
In the dark
Whoaaa
With the edge of the Mojave curling up into the fire
The highway is a black snake, the back of which I ride
I can feel the city breathing out over the rise
But the engine coughs and shudders, I think the dream’s about to die
With the final mile stretched out, the needle met the dash
I ran hard upon a promise but I couldn’t make it