12th And Porter Songtext
von Darling West

Mary was never at ease with what life had brought her
When things came out this way she′d care more for the other
Most of the time she would make up her mind
By simply flipping a coin
Holding her bets on both sides of the quarter
Then feeding the cigarette machine down at 12th & Porter


Days like this made her think of her mother
Nothing could make her come back she knew she shouldn't bother
"it′s nuttin budda sin you don't learn how to swim
Yer ma would've cared for it too,
Feet up head back" her daddy had told her
Cumberland river′s just a walk down from 12th & Porter

The night was so warm she laid back to float like a daughter
Of the motherly nearness in the washing of the water
The river caressed her and gently undressed her
She knew she would never go down
If she could lay still and follow the wave that had caught her
Nowadays the machine holds a sign that says;
"Slot out of order, one dollar bills only. No change. Staff 12th & Porter"