The south coast of Texas is a thin slice of life 

It' s salty and hard it it stern as a knife 

Where the wind is for blwon' up hurricanes for showin' 

The snakes how to swim and the trees how to lean 



Chorus 

The shrimpers and their ladies are out in the beer joints 

Drinkin' em down for they sail with the dawn 

They're bound for the Mexican Bay of Campche 

And the deck hands are singin' adios Jole Blon 



There's snowbirds in search of that sunshine and night life 

And fond of greasin' palms down the beach as they're goin' 

This livin' on the edge of the waters of the world 

Demands the dignity of whooping cranes and 

The likes of Gilbert Roland 



Chorus 

In the cars of my youth how I tore thru those sand dunes 

Cut up my tires on them oyster shell roads 

But nothin' is forever say the old men in the shipyards 

Turnin' trees into shrimp oats Hell I guess they ought to know 



Chorus