James McMurtry - The Old Part Of Town lyrics

(Peter Case)

Last night I wandered punch drunk & enraptured

Out on the beltway where the business is done

As I lay on the asphalt ‘neath the glow of light boxesI heard somebody say “bet I know where he’s from”

When the town is so quiet you can hear the bell tower tickin’

Out on the beltway they’re sellin’ the chicken

Where the tempers are short & the hours are longDarlin’, won’t you meet me in the old part of town?

Old part of townYou can still hear the footsteps of the old mystery

Old part of townYou can still feel the heartbeat of our whole historyWhen the heat on the street is wearin’ you down

Darlin’, won’t you meet me in the old part of town?

Saw two red high heel shoes split up around midnight

They said they’d meet later by the fountain at Third

Four tires came screeching from different directions& picked ‘em both up ‘fore they stepped off the curb

‘Cause in the hours past midnight they stop keeping tabs

The carnival quarters are vacant & sad

But darlin’ I think there’s still a time to be hadIn the old part of town where your mom met your dad

Darlin’ won’t you meet me in the old part of town?

Saw a newspaper with big headlines

That seemed to stare right through ya

Jump off a boxcar and blow into town

Pick a fight with two beer cans and a torn candy wrapper

The broom sweeping up the alley swore she never heard a sound

Meanwhile back on the beltway the cars are waiting in lines

Stars are blocked out by the shine of the signs

You might want to say “It’s a sign of the times”

But darlin’ won’t you meet me in the old part of town

Darlin’, won’t you meet me in the old part of town