East Houston Blues

So I grew up hungry and I grew up hard
Took the streets and alleys for my own backyard
I've got a break and enter on my list of crimes
Been before the judge one too many times

East Houston blues, scale of one to ten
'Bout a nine and a half is where it's always been
It's in the drinking water and in the bar ditch mud
East Houston blues, gets in a poor boy's blood

I learned to drink and drive when I was 12 years old
My uncle Fireball Stoddard rest his ragged soul
He ran a 54' Ford up and down the drag
Sippin' early times straight from a paper bag

East Houston blues, picture Dowling Street
And Navigation Boulevard where the crossroads meet
Three sheets in the wind, brick shy of a load
East Houston blues, down a nowhere road

40 dollar boots, big bangora hat
Stolen money from an inside job, maybe think about that

I'm a third ward child, my mother's only son
Which means exactly nothing without a loaded gun
I don't believe in love, this I guarantee
If there's a God above, he's got it in for me

East Houston blues, what you want me to say?
I need to find me a woman to keep the wolves at bay
Keep my head on straight, maybe toe the line
East Houston blues, ain't no friend of mine

So you understand that of which I speak
I'm a worried man on a losing streak