Lawrence Arms - Key To The City lyrics

Jerry Jeff Walker

Well, our story starts in Texas, where he's tempered by the heat

That skinny Alvin boy believes his fastball can't be heat

So he brings it and he brings it and it passes every test

They're talkin' he's a wild man might be the fastest in the West

Well, he's drafted by New York, he's gonna pitch up there in Shea

With those amazing Mets, he'll help them take it all the way

He gets a World Series ring, he stays modest, he don't boast

Now it's off to California, where he'll make history on the coast

Chorus:

Nolan Ryan, he's a hero to us all

Nolan Ryan, he stands straight, he stands tall

He don't mess around boys

He just throws a mean fast ball

Tom Morgan is the angel, gets Nolan in second gear

Then he pitches four no-hitters in about as many years

He's working for Gene Autry, they're calling him the Ryan Express

He throws one ball a hundred, now he's the fastest in the West

But after eight years on the left coast,

He says he wants to come home

So he signs on with the Astros,

He'll bring magic to the dome

As he throws his fifth no-hitter,

They're talkin' about he might be the best

In Texas people know, he's the fastest in the West

Chorus

Now he's a Texas Ranger, but he don't tote no gun

He'll mow you down with the heater, you smell leather, hear it hum

He throws a sixth no-hitter, the Oakland A's just met Big Tex

Now they're gonna judge all the rest,

Boys, against the fastest in the West

Now let's count up some numbers, he's forty-three years of age

He's got 5200 strike-outs, six no-hitters to date

There's 57 shut-outs, right up against 300 wins

And on the very first ballot, the Hall of Fame's gotta take him in

Chorus x2