Dark Side of Town

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 I'm gonna be a midnight rider Gonna burn my candle down Followin' that drivin' beat To the dark side of town From the bar-rooms of Deep Ellum to a crash-pad on the bay He spiraled slow and steady down a lonely blue highway I'm gonna chase my beer with whiskey, stick a needle in my skin I'm gonna celebrate the mystery of the hole I've fallen in 'Cause I'm a, a midnight rider I'm gonna burn my candle down Followin' that drivin' beat To the dark side of town Well he loved that funky music, he knew the back-road scenes Every barbecue 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 Cause he was a midnight 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 pick-up and a hound-dog and a little lucky streak He nursed that fragile flame through the hurricanes and drought It was a summer wind that came in and blew the candle out 'Cause he was a midnight rider He burned that candle down Followin' that drivin' beat To the dark side of town And oh you midnight rider Yeah I know you're still around Hangin' out on easy street On the dark side of town