Written over some Tom Waits-y ballad chords Wes Langlois was kicking around. He may have also put in a line somewhere.
lyrics
Living on rice and beans
Living on cold sidewalks and snow
Living on you and me
Dying to know
Every little last thing I could
About that girl so handsome and tall
Maria, I miss you most of all
Steaming kettle on Seventh Street
Third floor, river view
Baby, pour me one more cup of tea
And I'll pour another for you
Old Charlie playing his slide trombone
Notes floating up and down the hall
Maria, I miss you most all
Still see you dancing on a table
In that winter coat of mine
Every good thing goes
It's only a matter of time
Coldest day of the year
But the nurses all treated me kind
They said, 'You'll see her somewhere
On down the line."
Couldn't catch a Cuyahoga thaw
Only went out for tuna and gin
Put your favorite record on
Cut off the speakers and watched it spin
I wrote Miss Edna a letter
I couldn't bear to make that call
Maria, I miss you most of all
Ironed out my best white shirt
Cut a red patch out of your dress
In front of our bedroom mirror
I sewed that red patch to my chest
Said goodbye to Charlie
Etched our names into the wall
Maria, I miss you most of all
Chorus
I settled down with a southern girl
I think you would approve
Walked her up and down old Seventh Street
Showed her that third floor river view
I got a boy, I swear he has your eyes
And you can guess what my daughter is called
Maria, I miss you most of all
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