Capo on 2 
 
C                                  F   
The south coast of Texas, that's a thin slice of life 
     G                                C   
It's salty and hard, it is stern as a knife 
                                  F   
Where the wind is for blowin' up, hurricanes for showin' 
G                                   C   
Snakes how to swim and trees how to lean 
 
 
        F    
And the shrimpers and their ladies are out in the beer joints 
C                                        G      
Drinkin' 'em down for they sail with the dawn 
        F    
They're bound for the Mexican bay of Campeche  
        C                      G            C         
And the deck hands are singin' \"Adios, Jole Blon\"  
 
C                                       F    
There's snow birds in search of that sunshine and nightlife 
     G                                           C       
Fond of greasin' palms down the beach as they're goin' 
                                   F                        
Ah, this livin' on the edge of the waters of the world  
G 
demands 
 
The dignity of whoopin' cranes and the likes of Gilbert  
   C 
Roland  
 
(Chorus) 
 
C                                   F    
In the cars of my youth, how I tore through those sand dunes 
    G                                    C       
And cut up my tires on them oyster shell roads 
                                   F    
But, nothin' lasts forever say the old men in the shipyards 
G                                                           
Turnin' trees into shrimp boats; hell, I guess they oughta  
C 
know 
 
(Chorus)