Mama's air conditioning
Went out in July
She bought me this guitar
Never said why

I hastily moved in
With a friend of a friend
Who danced in Silver City
Late at night

She danced in Silver City
Way back when
Takin' easy money
Off the good time men
The skyline shined
Like emeralds in her eyes
As she danced in Silver City
Late at night

Joshua, my brother
Said he'd help me out
When I took up his offer
I had my doubts

Everybody went to prison
Who didn't die to pay their debt
I woke up in New York City
Soaking wet

I woke up in New York City
Without a name
Wasn't long before I learned
The hustler's game

Just a poor boy from south Texas
You can bet
I woke up in New York City
Soaking wet

Then I met a sparkling woman
Whose first name was Nell
She said: Boy, you're a star
And I can tell

But the young are often desperate
And hardly take their rest
I fell apart the way you
Might have guessed

She danced in Silver City
Way back when
Takin' easy money
Off the good time men
The skyline shined like emeralds
In her eyes
As she danced in Silver City
Late at night