Black Snake Mojave Blues - Jam in the Van, Balto

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