Lyrics Poor Man's Shangri-La - Ry Cooder

Poor Man's Shangri-La

Tell you 'bout this friend of mine that you don’t know
He lives way up a road that’s lost in time
Don’t know his name, or where he’s coming from
Only thing you know, he’s a real gone cat
This friend of mine
He don’t have no uptown friends, or drive a Cadillac
But he’s got cool threads and a beat up car
All his downtown friends like me ride around in the back
'Cause he’s a real cool cat, yeah he’s a real cool cat
This friend of mine
La Loma boys will run with you
Do anything that you want them to
If you need a friend 'cause you’re feeling blue
Palo Verde girls never let you down
Na na na na na, living in a poor man’s Shangri-La
Firme guys in their firme cars
Underneath the moon and stars
The city lights way down below
What’s that sound?
What’s that light
Streaking down through the night?
What’s it mean?
It’s a red cloud over
Chávez Ravine
Oralé, UFO, come gliding low
Se cayó up Chávez Road
Space Vato, square cat
Say, «Caramba, partners, where’s the party at?»
I heard about the cool jerk, and the alligator
Tokay wine, Mary Jane, and Lil' Julian Herrera
Iwant to learn to dance, make romance
These La Bishop girls might take a chance
My friend says, «No, be cool, bro
If you want to dance slow
Learn to ask a mi hermana con respeto.»
UFO got a radio
Lil' Julian singing soft and low
Los Angeles down below
DJ says, we got to go
To El Monte, El Monte, pa El Monte
Na na na na na, living in a poor man’s Shangri-La