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Heaven, Hell, Or Houston Lyrics

Hello darling.
Surprised?
Yes, it's me again.
I have just returned from the island of Chandelier.
What am I doing in town?
Well, I'm glad you asked.
I'm just passing through in search of the ever elusive Thunderbird.

I got a job as a public relations man.
Passing out handbills on Austin Street.
Merely an effort to improve my financial situation,
And ward off a case of the D.T.'s

So farewell, my darling.
Perhaps we'll meet again
On some sin-infested street corner in Houston Texas.
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Cover art for Heaven, Hell, Or Houston lyrics by ZZ Top

I think it's not chandelier but https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandeleur_Islands

Song Fact

@HUX888 Yep, I think you got it right.

Cover art for Heaven, Hell, Or Houston lyrics by ZZ Top

I strikes me as a Texas take on “Sympathy With the Devil”.

“Perhaps we'll meet again on some sin-infested street corner”

Cover art for Heaven, Hell, Or Houston lyrics by ZZ Top

In the first verse(and rest of the song), the narrator is talking about he has left the island of Chandeleur(not chandelier, as that doesn't make sense, and Chandeleur is in the gulf of Mexico, which is in a similar region to Texas) and working some temporary job make sure he has money(Second verse) "I got a job as a public relations man Passing out handbills on Austin Street Merely an effort to improve my financial situation" This man is trying to catch or tame the thunderbird. What does he mean when he says thunderbird? Well in Texas, there was a myth about a giant bird, which could control the weather and would rip it pray from limb to limb with its massive talons. It also would make thunderstorms when hunted(https://kisselpaso.com/the-legend-unique-formation-of-el-pasos-thunderbird-mountain/#:~:text=Legend%20has%20it%20that%20the,from%20its%20beak%20or%20eyes.) The narrator has returned to whatever town this interaction takes place in, in order to continue his quest to catch the bird(It might have caused a death or injured someone he knows, or himself. Also the fact that he has a bad financial situation, means it he kills it he may get a reward) ,or tame it(He might want to have the power of controlling the weather.)

@F1r3H0use - You're right about the island of Chandeleur, but your explanation of the Thunderbird thing literally had me laughing out loud. No, it has nothing to do with a mythical bird. He's referring to Thunderbird wine, the cheap, nasty-tasting wine favored by winos. His financial situation is poor because he's a wino; it's as simple as that. He says he took the job handing out handbills in order to "ward off a case of the D.T.s" The D.T.s - short for "delirium tremens," the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. It seems pretty obvious to me, but apparently others were befuddled...

@Jiminychristmas Glad you're more familiar with alcohol withdrawals than I am.

Cover art for Heaven, Hell, Or Houston lyrics by ZZ Top

this song is so cool. i love the guitar/bells thing.

 
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