E
I hear mariachi static on my radio
                                B7
And the tubes they light up the dark.

And I'm with her in Encinada
                E
Stuck in Echo Park,

[Chorus]
  A
Carmelita, hold me tighter
  E                A
I think I'm sinkin down.
        E                 B7
And I'm all strung-out on heroin
                    E
on the outskirts of town.

[Verse 2]
     E
Well I'm sittin' here playin' solitare
                      B7
With my pearl handled deck

The county won't give me no more methadone
                              E
And they cut off your welfare check.

[Chorus]
  A
Carmelita, hold me tighter
  E                A
I think I'm sinkin down.
        E                 B7
And I'm all strung-out on heroin
                    E
on the outskirts of town.

[Interlude]
A E A E B7 E

[Verse 3]
     E
Well I pawned my Smith Corona
                           B7
and I went down to meet my man.

He hangs out down on Alvarado Street
                       E
by the Pioneer Chicken stand.

[Chorus]
  A
Carmelita, hold me tighter
  E                A
I think I'm sinkin down.
        E                 B7
And I'm all strung-out on heroin
                    E
on the outskirts of town.

[Chorus]
  A
Carmelita, hold me tighter
  E                A
I think I'm sinkin down.
        E                 B7
And I'm all strung-out on heroin
                    E
on the outskirts of town.

[Outro]
    E                 B7                          E
I'm all strung out on heroin on the outskirts of town