I had a sister and we lived together, in a house on a cul de sac
Dad had a steady job and so did mom, down at the Boeing plant.
I still remember the sound of their laughter from downstairs when they would come home
Every Friday night they’d hit every dive, down on Casino Road.

Then Dad got hurt, laid off at work, times they got tougher real fast
I took a full-time job to help out my mom and dad while he was out on his back.
While they tried to fix him, they wrote a prescription for something nobody should have.
First he took the pills, then the pills took him. Damn Doc, you killed my old man.
My mother tried to keep it together, but there’s only so much you can stand.
Seems like every night she would give into drink and the arms of some other man,
On Casino Road

My little sister, She had a enough, left as soon as she could get out,
Mom just shrugged and said, “let her run,” and faded back into the walls of the house.
I did my best to keep my eye on my sister, make sure things didn’t get outta hand
But she fell in love with a two bit thug selling the same shit that killed my old man.
Wasn’t long before things went south and he tried to put her under the ground.
I found her with her jaw wired shut and her face cut up, wandering in a hospital gown
Down on Casino Road.

He got out after three years inside (good behavior, he saw the light).
I heard he got clean, started a ministry, out there on highway 99.
Mom passed away back in 2008 and left me what was left of the house,
And some bills to pay and not much to say as they lowered her silently down.
I tried to find her after the funeral, figured she had a right to know.
I asked around but the trail went cold like night opened up and swallowed her whole
Somewhere on Casino Road.

Time passes by. I work the ARCO at night. Down there on Bedlam Drive.
I’ve seen so many things you wouldn’t believe, its wonder anyone’s still alive.
Five in the morning, counting the tills I see someone beeline for the door
I get ahold of her sleeve as she was trying to leave, mad dog spills out all over the floor.
Soaked to the bone with nowhere to go like something dredged up from the sloughs
it’s hard to hold on to something so far gone when they’ve got absolutely nothing to lose
On Casino Road.