Corpus Christi Bay
Tales of Temptation: Life's Undertow on Corpus Christi Bay
Lyrics
I worked the rigs from three 'til midnight
Worked on oil rigs from 3 PM until midnight
On the Corpus Christi Bay
Worked specifically in Corpus Christi Bay area
I'd get off and drink 'til daylight
After work, indulged in drinking until morning
Sleep the mornin' away
Slept in the morning after drinking
I had a plan to take my wages
Planned to use earnings to leave the oil rigs permanently
Leave the rigs behind for good
Intended to quit working on the rigs
But that life it is contagious
Describes how the lifestyle becomes ingrained and addictive
And it gets down in your blood
The lifestyle becomes a part of one's nature
I lived in Corpus with my brother
Lived in Corpus Christi with a sibling
We were always on the run
Both siblings were constantly moving or fleeing from situations
We were bad for one another
They were trouble together but enjoyed themselves
But we were good at having fun
Despite being problematic, they had fun
We got stoned along the seawall
Used drugs near the seawall
We got drunk and rolled a car
Engaged in drunken driving incidents
We knew the girls at every dancehall
Familiar with girls from various dance halls
Had a tab at every bar
Owed money at numerous bars
If I could live my life all over
Expresses regret but believes nothing would change
It wouldn't matter anyway
Regardless of choices made, the outcome would be the same
I never could stay sober
Struggled with alcohol addiction consistently
On the Corpus Christi Bay
Alcoholism remained a constant issue in Corpus Christi
My brother had a wife and family
His brother had a family and provided them with a home
You know he gave 'em both a home
His brother's wife considered them reckless
But his wife thought we were crazy
His brother's wife left them
And one day we found her gone
Packed her belongings
We threw here clothes into the car trunk
Packed her belongings in the car
Her photographs her rosary
Included her personal items and religious articles
We went to the pier and got drunk
Went to the pier and drank to cope
And threw it all into the sea
Disposed of her belongings in the sea while intoxicated
If I could live my life all over
Reflects the regret for past actions but with resignation
It wouldn't matter anyway
Feels actions wouldn't have changed outcomes
I never could stay sober
Continued struggle with alcoholism despite hypothetical changes
On the Corpus Christi Bay
Alcohol remained a significant problem in Corpus Christi life
Now my brother lives in Houston
His brother resides in Houston now
He married for the second time
Married for a second time
He got a job with the union
Secured a job with the union which helps keep him disciplined
And it's keeping him in line
The job has a positive influence on his behavior
He came to Corpus just this weekend
Visited Corpus Christi recently
It was good to see him here
His presence was a pleasant surprise
He said he finally gave up drinkin'
Claims to have stopped drinking
Then he ordered me a beer
Ironically orders a drink for the narrator
If I could live my life all over
Reflects the regretful acceptance of past actions
It wouldn't matter anyway
Belief that choices wouldn't have altered circumstances
I never could stay sober
Continued struggle with sobriety in Corpus Christi
On the Corpus Christi Bay
Alcoholism remained a persistent issue in the narrator's life
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