E
Well I left Houston, Texas on a Gulf Coast hurricane.
  E
I was blowed down by tornados, washed up by the rain.
     A
My pappy wasn't happy with me, he told me to go.
    E
I stole my daddy's Cadillac, I headed  down the road.
        B7
I had a grin from ear to ear with each and every mile.
     A                               G              E
I’m headed for the border, man, I’m goin' down in style.

[Verse 2]
 E
Now, I hit Corpus Christi and the wind was at my back.
E
I drove them women crazy in my daddy's Cadillac.
      A
I'd cruise 'em up that boulevard, treated them like queens.
    E
I took 'em all the places that they wanted to be seen
    B7
And when I had to leave 'em, I'd tell 'em with a smile,
        A                             G              E
"I'm headed for the border, man, I'm goin' down in style."

[Middle 8]
     A
You've gotta take your chances if they ever come along.
  E
Close your eyes and listen to the great big engine whine.
    A
And it don't really matter whether you are right or wrong
    B7
‘Cause when you cross the border, man, you leave this world behind.


[Verse 3]
 E
I stomped down on the pedal, I set the cruise control.
E
Five hundred ragin' horses bear on by the state patrol.
     A
The sirens were a-screamin', lights were flashin' red.
   E
A dozen more a-waitin' at the roadblock up ahead.
       B7
As I scattered them like chickens, I heard one of 'em cry,
        A                                 G              E
"He's headed for the border, man, he's goin' down in style."
[Middle 8]
  A
Now once you cross the border, you ain't never comin' back.
  E
And there ain't no redemption when the cops are on your tail.
   A
The closest thing to Heaven is this great big Cadillac,
     B7
The city lights of Houston, or the fiery gates of Hell.

[Verse 4]
      E
They nailed me on the hill that overlooks the Rio Grande.
E
I was feelin' just like Moses lookin' on the Promised Land.
      A
They hauled me back to Houston, they throwed me in the jail.
    E
My mama started cryin', my daddy paid the bail.
     B7
I'm sorry I’m not there to hear the outcome of my trial
        A                                 G              E
I'm headed for the border, man, I'm goin' down in style.