Marathon
Journey through Marathon: Tales of Borderlines, Storms, and Starlit Nights
Lyrics
Highway 90 driving
Describing the act of driving on Highway 90.
Due west, border line is
Traveling westward along the border.
Dead left just outside
Left turn just outside of Amistad.
Of Amistad
Reference to a location named Amistad.
Langtry ain't seen more than
Langtry has only witnessed Roy Bean presiding.
Roy Bean holding court and the
Portraying the scene with light green and dust white Fords during the day watch.
Light green and dust white Fords
Specifically, Roy Bean holding court.
On the day watch
Police cars on duty during the day.
You can drive 110
Driving at a speed of 110.
From Dryden to Sanderson
Traveling from Dryden to Sanderson.
And it doesn't really seem all that fast
The speed doesn't feel fast along this stretch.
Hug the edge of the canyon
Following the canyon's edge.
Past the Longfellow Ranch
Past the Longfellow Ranch.
'Til the mesas give way
Transitioning from mesas to long, gold grasses in Marathon.
To the long, gold grasses of Marathon
With Buffalo Soldiers posted
Historical mention of the transcontinental railroad and the Chinese laborers who built it.
The railroad coast to coasted
Tracks sewn by Chinese ghosts for pocket change.
On tracks sewn by Chinese ghosts
For pocket change
Creosote scent on monsoon mornings signals an impending storm.
When creosote on monsoon mornings
Finds your nose you know a storm'll be
Seeing one's shadow at night cast only by starlight.
Rolling over those old Del Norte's
Counting fingers on the ground under the moon rising from the Glass Mountains.
With a hard rain
A reference to a big silver dollar buying up all midnight in Marathon.
You can see your shadow at night
Arrowheads indicating Apache and Chiso origins.
Cast by nothing but starlight
Lightning brand symbolizing a connection from here to Boquillas.
And count all five fingers right there on the ground
Marathon's high school having seven seniors this year.
Watch the moon rising out of
The mouth of the Glass Mountains
-'Til that big silver dollar
-Buys up all of the midnight in Marathon
-The arrowheads were Apache and Chiso
-The lightning brand ran from here to Boquillas
-This year the high school's got seven seniors
-In Marathon
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