Calistan

Frank Black

I took three days to drive down one street

The radio on, tuned to the big fleet

Invisible planes are cracking the concrete

That's just what some people say



I put down my blanket on cigarette-butt beach

I saw the old man, he was doing okay

He's making his last stand

On old bottles and cans

'Round there, Calistan way



Used to be sixteen lanes

Used to be Nuevo Spain

Used to be Juan Wayne

Used to be Mexico

Used to be Navajo

Used to be yippy-ay-I-don't-know



Went in from the weather when I got wheezy

I play some Pachinko I play Pachisi

And St. Anne is still making it breezy

In the valley of tar that once was L.A.



And my best friend he's the king of Karaoke

He struck up a chord and he took it away

Out of the pan

And into Japan

'Round there, Calistan way



Used to be sixteen lanes

Used to be Juan Wayne

Used to Mexicain

Used to be Espano Nuevo

Used to Navajo

Used to be yippie-ay-I-don't-know.