The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
I hear Mariachi static on my radio
And the tubes they glow in the dark
And I'm there with her in Ensenada
And I'm here in Echo Park
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
Well, I'm sittin' here playing solitaire
With my pearl-handled deck
The county won't give me no more methadone
And they cut off your welfare check
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
Well, I pawned my Smith Corona
And I went to meet my man
He hangs out down on Alvarado Street
By the Pioneer chicken stand
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
And the tubes they glow in the dark
And I'm there with her in Ensenada
And I'm here in Echo Park
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
Well, I'm sittin' here playing solitaire
With my pearl-handled deck
The county won't give me no more methadone
And they cut off your welfare check
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
Well, I pawned my Smith Corona
And I went to meet my man
He hangs out down on Alvarado Street
By the Pioneer chicken stand
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
Carmelita hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down
And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town
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Carmelita is my girlfriend, the Mexican heroin available at that time. Ensenada refers to a street on the 'outskirts' of L.A. at the time. 'Mariachi static on the radio' refers to highpowered radio transmissions from Mexican radio stations that would wash out American broadcasters, especialy if you were too stoned to retune the station you were listening to. Echo Park and Alvarado St. are obvious; west L.A. where it was possible. It is also important to understand that to pawn your 'Smith-Corona' - a portable electric typewriter - (especialy for a writer) would be the equivalent of pawning your laptop or I-Pad today.
Warren Zevon wrote it, he knew such people and it is good that Murray McLauchlan took the time to introduce him to the world.
I think there was some sarcasm with the methadone being cut off as well as the welfare cheques. I have heard that his cancer was caused by asbestos. Ironic that he lived at the Tropicana which was constantly being wrecked by its visitors and inhabitants and while his hard living didn't help; it was the poison let loose in the air when somebody took out their frustrations on the ceilings and the walls that did him in.