"Poor Man's Shangri-La" lyrics - RY COODER

Tell you 'bout a friend of mine that you don't know.
He lives way up a road that's lost in time.
Don't know his name, or where he's coming from.
Only thing you know, he's a real gone cat,
This friend of mine.
He don't have no uptown friends, or drive a Cadillac,
But he's got cool threads and a beat-up car.
All his downtown friends like me ride around in the back
'Cause he's a real cool cat, yeah he's a real gone cat,
This friend of mine.

La Loma boys will run with you,
Do anything that you want them to,
If you need a friend 'cause you're feeling blue.
Palo Verde girls never let you down.
Na na na na na, living in a poor man's Shangri-La.
Firme guys in their firme cars,
Underneath the moon and stars.
The city lights way down below.
What's that sound? What's that light
Streaking down through the night?
What's it mean? It's a red cloud over
Chavez Ravine.

Orale, U.F.O. come gliding low.
Se cayo on Chavez Road.
Space Vato, square cat
Say, "Caramba, partners, where's the party at?"
I heard about the cool jerk, and the alligator,
Tokay wine, Mary Jane, and Lil' Julian Herrera.
I want to learn to dance, make romance.
These La Bishop girls might take a chance.
My friends say, "No, be cool, bro.
If you want to dance slow,
Learn to ask a mi hermana con respeto."
U.F.O. got a radio.
Lil' Julian singing soft and low.
Los Angeles down below.
DJ says, we got to go,
To El Monte, El Monte, El Monte, pa El Monte.
Na na na na na, living in a poor man's Shangri-La.