Jim Glaser - The Lights of Albuquerque

Santa Fe is more than a little twee - a mix of overly precious upscale tourist traps combined with goofy crystal and patchouli tourist traps.  Plus, it's full of politicians.  Albuquerque, on the other hand, is an honest town - unashamed in its southwestern heritage but with better things to do than talk about chakras.  I'll take Old Town Albuquerque over Old Town Santa Fe any day, and the city is filled with unexpected gems: The National Atomic Museum, the Bio Park, the Rio Grande Nature Center, and the Volcanoes.  And of course, the hot air Balloon Fiesta which is entirely sui generis.

It's worth a visit, even if you don't have family here.  Of course, it's always even better if you do.

This song is bitter sweet for me.  I went a long time not speaking with Mom and Dad for stupid reasons - foolish pride, really.  I was fortunate to have parents bigger than I.  Now I'm here visiting her.  I'll probably go up to Dad's grave tomorrow, after we go to the Bio Park.  Like I said, bitter sweet.

Jim Glaser had a career mostly as a backup singer (mostly with Marty Robbins), but had a few hits on his own in the 1980s, including a number 1 in 1984 (You're Getting To Me Again) and this one in 1986.  His voice was good enough that he won the ACM Best New Male Vocalist in 1983.  Perhaps not enough to make it on his own, but more than enough to get steady paying work in a tough business.

In a way, he's kind of like Albuquerque.  Maybe you don't think of it first, looking instead at "headliners" like Santa Fe and Rascall Flatts, but he's a solid, working man's singer just like Albuquerque is a solid, workingman's town.  Worth a listen, and worth a visit.




The Lights Of Albuquerque (Songwriters: Buck Jones, Bob McDill, Dickie Lee)

Desert moon, lights the freeway up tonight,

Chevy van, how I wish that you could fly.

Gotta get to her and tell her I was wrong,

But I'm still such a long, long way from home,

And the road goes on, on and on, on and on.

But the Lights Of Albuquerque, will soon be shining bright,

Like a diamond in the desert, like a beacon in the night.

And I wonder if she'll take me back, will she understand?

Will the Lights Of Albuquerque, shine for me again?

Thinking back, to the foolish things I said,

Looking out, at the white lines up ahead.

Gonna tell her I can't make it on my own,

Oh, this empty feeling won't leave me alone,

It goes on and on, on and on, on and on.

But the Lights Of Albuquerque, will soon be shining bright,

Like a diamond in the desert, like a beacon in the night.

And I wonder if she'll take me back, will she understand?

Will the Lights Of Albuquerque, shine for me again?

Oh, the Lights of Albuqquerque, will soon be shing bright.

Like a diamond in the desert, like a beacong in the night.

And I wonder if she'll take me back, will she understand?

Will the Lights Of Albuquerque, shine for me again?

Oh, the Lights Of Albuquerque, will soon be shining bright.

Like a diamond in the desert, like a beacon in the night.