Recorded by Roger Creager – Gulf Coast Time (2016)
Music and Lyrics by Owen Temple
A seagull cry, a child laugh, an old man orders a drink
It’s been ten years since he got here and it hurts to think
That years ago at this beachside bar a woman held his hand
And he lost his chance for true romance on South Padre Island
The woman’s name was Mary Ann and Gary loved her so
He said be my wife for the rest of your life and she said no
Old Gary was from Indiana all his life a traveling man
He had a dog and a boat and he would float and fish around this old island
He’s stuck at Wanna Wanna the beachfront bar sipping on Coke and rum
The tide rolls in his dreams die out, he’s waiting on a love that won’t come
True love never will come
Years ago in California, Gary loved a girl named Sue
She and three more wives told him lies when they said I do
And this last one took the money and the things Gary cared about
She took the dog and the boat, now he can’t float ‘cause she walked out
And he’s stuck at Wanna Wanna the beachfront bar
Sipping on Coke and rum
The tide rolls in his dreams die out
Waiting on a love that won’t come
True love it never will come
Gary looks out at the gulf and squints his eyes
Thinking again of what might have been without them hard goodbyes
But Gary’s got lots of stories of people and places he’s been
Yeah, I’ve had a few of them good times too, he said with a grin
Now he’s stuck at Wanna Wanna the beachfront bar
Sipping on Coke and rum
The tide rolls in his dreams die out
He’s waiting on a love that won’t come
True love never will come
Gary’s still down there on Padre a little sad but he’s alright
And if you head his way on some Sunday he’ll drink with you all night
He’s stuck at Wanna Wanna the beachfront bar
Sipping on Coke and rum
The tide rolls in his dreams die out
Waiting on a love that won’t come
True love it never will come