And the tubes they glow in the dark 

And I'm there with her in Encenada 

And I'm here in Echo Park 



Carmelita, hold me tighter 

I think I'm sinking down 

And I'm all strung out on heroin 

On the outskirts of town 



I pawned my Smith-Corona 

And I went to meet my man 

He hangs out down on Alvarado Street 

By the Pioneer Chicken stand 



Carmelita, hold me tighter 

I think I'm sinking down 

And I'm all strung out on heroin 

On the outskirts of town 



Well, I'm sitting here playing solitaire 

With my pearl-handled deck 

This county won't give me no more methadone 

And they cut off your welfare check 



Carmelita, hold me tighter 

I think I'm sinking down 

And I'm all strung out on heroin 

On the outskirts of town