James McMurtry
Safe Side
[Verse 1]
Down in Piedras Negras you gotta watch yourself
There's a whole lotta hungry people lookin' to share some wealth
And when the oilfield's busted and the peso takes a dive
Stay off the side streets if you wanna come back alive

Yo no busca nada, I'm just standin' here
Mindin' my own business, gonna get back outta here

Back to the safe side
Back to the safe side

[Verse 2]
And at the base of the barstool there's a drain in the floor
You better not go in there, if you don't know what that's for
It's no place to take your lady, she'll get the evil eye
Sizin' up their prospects, sharpenin' up their knives

No me gusta nada, yo no queiro ver
Once I get across this river, never gonna go back there

Stayin' on the safe side
Stayin' on the safe side

Yo no fumo mota, yo no quiero ver
Once I get across this river, never gonna go back there
[Verse 3]
Up in San Antonio all the pretty people know
They better stay off of the west side where the black tar flows
They hide in their sheltered enclaves up around Olmos Park
They got their own policeman so they can stay out way past dark

[Verse 4]
Back down in Piedras Negras, the children play with dirt
We keep our pistols loaded so we don't get hurt
No importa a nadie, it's always been that way
Never gonna get no different, long as we got our say

Stay on the safe side
Stay on the safe side

No me gusta nada, it's always been that way
Never gonna get no different long as we got our way

Stay on the safe side
Stay on the safe side
Stay on the safe side
Stay on the safe side