Dan Fogelberg - Tucson, Arizona (Gazette) Lyrics






Tucson, Arizona
Rising in the heat
Like a mirage

Tony keeps his Chevy
Like a virgin
Locked in his garage

He brings it out at midnight
And cruises down
The empty boulevards

And he prowls
The darkened alleys
That snake between
The city's thirsty yards

The lonely desert skies
Reflect the anger in his eyes
And it is dawn

His father died of drinking
And left five children sinking
With his mom

His older brother Bobby
Never made it back
From Vietnam

With high school well behind him
He lives at home and
Works this shitty job

And he thinks his '60 Chevy
Is the only true amigo
That he's got

His heart is filled with sadness
And his soul is like
Some ugly vacant lot

Mary Estelle Hanna
Come out from Louisiana
For the sun

A deal gone bad in Dallas
Left her burned and broke
And on the run

To make the rent and groceries
She takes this job at
$3.15 an hour

Serving shots of whiskey and tequila
In some smoky red-neck bar

And she dreams some day
She'll make her way to L.A.
And become a movie star

Tony saw her working
He swallowed hard and
Asked her for a date

Mary laughed and answered
"I would but every night
I'm working late"

He said he had some cocaine
That she could have
If she'd just ride along

She said, "What the hell
I may as well
I haven't had no fun
In so damn long"

He picked her up at closing time
They pulled out on the road
And they were gone

Tony's mom got frantic
When she found her son
Had not come home

Mary's roommate panicked
And called the sheriff
From a public phone

They asked her lots of questions
She tried her best to tell
Them what she saw

And late that night
They found poor Mary
Lying in some narrow, dusty draw

And the coroner reported
That she hadn't been
Deceased for very long

Two weeks on they found it
Buried to the windshield
In the sand

There inside lay Tony
With a small revolver
In his hand

The papers simply stated
It must have been the
Drugs that drove him mad

The neighbors speculated
What could make a good boy
Go so bad?

Well, it might have been
The desert heat
It might have been the
Home he never had





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Dan Fogelberg Tucson, Arizona (Gazette) Comments
  1. C.... T....

    My mother's favorite love you momma

  2. H.... O....

    Aunque no entiendo inglès,siempre me ha gustado esta canciòn

  3. l.... ....

    The first time I heard this ballad was in 1984 on my recently purchased album of Dan's. I played it over and over again. All these years later this is still one of my favorites.....along with Window's and Walls. Thank You Dan for putting your words and music into our hearts.

  4. M.... ....

    Great, evocative images, JM -- Bravo! You equated the 'Moments' in Dan's song of songs ...
    D.A.

    M.... ....

    Thank you MeBe TheDB!

  5. B.... 1....

    First time I heard this song my grandpa put it on in vinyl and played along as best he could on his guitar. Cool experience as a kid

  6. B.... B....

    I wonder if the girl died from an overdose?

  7. T.... B....

    Me too!

  8. L.... S....

    Really liked it. :)

  9. M.... ....

    every singer marks his term with a song
    that was his
    unfortunately not for many

  10. S.... A....

    This is such a great song. Fortunately I was able to see DF live back in the 80’s.

  11. S.... ....

    Still heartbroken Dan. Writing a simple tune to honor you.... Picking Up the Pieces.

  12. R.... G....

    I’ m listen and listen and listen again and again and again forever and ever and once again....

    R.... G....

    Great! Dan's music forever....

  13. P.... G....

    JM Eagle, you always bring me to time's of long ago, I can't thank you enough for your timeless tribute to Dan, you are amazing sending light, laughter and peace, always n forever Paula

    P.... G....

    Paula, I thank you for enjoy Dan's music, he si the greatest song writer!

  14. R.... R....

    What a tragedy in a tragic world 2019

  15. J.... C....

    I do love it

  16. T.... D....

    My favorite, also. Miss him more than words can say..............

  17. L.... G....

    I will always listen to Dan!!! He is amazing, a genius!

  18. R.... R....

    Hoy en el 2019 excelente canción para terminar la jornada

  19. S.... C....

    ...Tremendo tema: traspasa fronteras y lenguas!!

  20. M.... c....

    Absolutely Brilliant!!!

  21. P.... E....

    Dan was an absolute genius who's songs came from his heart and soul and Tucson Arizona is a masterpiece both lyrically and musically. Love this and all of his songs forever!!

  22. 1.... H....

    A Strong and poignant ballad crafted by one of the last masters who actually gave a damn about music. RIP Dan.

  23. y.... n....

    Who's still listening in 2019?

    y.... n....

    We still are. One of the best songs ever!

    y.... n....

    2019! I remember this epic ballad from the day I bought it on 8-track; I'm a lifelong huge Dan Fogelberg admirer, saw him in concert in Auburn and Birmingham Alabama. Awesome story in this song...I share with my grown sons...they're musicians themselves.

    y.... n....

    Classics don't melt with time, yazid. Who listens to the Beatles, Eric Clapton, or Dark Side Of The Moon? :: laughing ::

    y.... n....

    There doesn't seem to be anything that even compares.

    y.... n....

    I'm actually from the future. The music is so bad I built a time machine to go back to your era where Dan's music is obtainable. This is
    simply awesome!!!!

  24. G.... L....

    I have been listening to music for 60 years. this my be my favorite.masterpiece

  25. A.... D....

    I love you Arizona, amazing place where I lived for long time!

  26. k.... s....

    ONE OF my favorite Fogelberg story songs . Masterpiece indeed !

  27. H.... D....

    His voice sounds like a church bell, so clear an full of harme.You' ve gone much too soon, i love your music an listening it on and on
    🎵♥️🎵

  28. A.... D....

    So why did Tony killed her ?

    A.... D....

    Ali Dal what the hell, may as well. Her life was so bad she may have asked him.

  29. m.... c....

    Starbucks live Time, Ruan esperinci long . error .

  30. m.... c....

    Good toody 12/8/18..lost live Time .

  31. I.... ....

    He was such an amazing singer.....A beautiful voice he had. It was always easy to know who it was on the radio when he came on with that amazing voice of his......He is truly missed

  32. L.... W....

    Bill, thank you for sharing this, I have it in my library but the video is so nice
    This song is a masterpiece, the way he fills and builds like he says it's a movie. I guess you could say it slowly fills my loving cup.

    L.... W....

    thank you Lee for your comment, hope I did it justice like a movie.

  33. L.... W....

    Hi, BilI. Came back over to YT to dig my hero. Sometimes I really need him. Peace.

  34. j.... g....

    Dan is one of the best poet songwriter and singer of all time rip

  35. G.... N....

    Sad and heartwarming song at the same time. Dan tells a story in this song and that is very different to most songs of today.
    Now, in 2018, most of the songs have only a refrain that will repeat 20 times within 2 minutes. Boring, I think.
    But this song is a masterpiece!

  36. K.... S....

    So evocative after all these years ......

  37. W.... ....

    A magnificent tour de force of music and lyrics!

  38. s.... c....

    Russ Allgaier this Song makes me wonder what would have happened if Dan Fogelberg would have become an author. Or if Mary Higgins Clark would have been a song writer.talk about two talents ccolaberaating in quadfonic stereo WOW!!!!!

  39. P.... T....

    It's Brilliantly not Morrison. What the hell it may as well. The mind slips into understanding 10 years from now, this comment will be read... Whose it gonna be? Jim or Dan?

    Peace Frog.

  40. D.... W....

    Absolutely breathtaking photos!!!!

  41. D.... W....

    So refreshing that someone is keeping his music alive!

  42. B.... C....

    This song has always haunted me.

  43. C.... S....

    I'm amazed with this song. It's playing over and over on my iPod during my long running trainings. Great story!

  44. T.... L....

    Good to know Dan felt that way about this song. It was always one of my favorites of his. So visceral.

  45. V.... B....

    Perfect storm of guitar, melody, arrangement, lyrics, voice and story. Haunting and yet beautiful and rich.
    Love you , Dan

    Sad about Tony and Mary Estelle Hanna and all the others.

  46. l.... ....

    So sad that to think today in 2018 that this song is so true for so many of our children that have lost their way.

  47. l.... ....

    Other than "Windows and Walls" this is one of my favorite songs.

    l.... ....

    Agree completely, my two favorites also. Have his entire catalog, but these two are top of the list!

  48. N.... M....

    talk about his ability to mix it up !!! very different.

  49. H.... ....

    ...motion blurring in the hazy silhouette of dreams and despair in a cold desert of mad homelessness...

  50. t.... ....

    What a cheery little ditty...thanks, Dan

  51. E.... S....

    I love this song... so much.

  52. T.... P....

    Forty years later I rediscovered Dan Fogelberg, from the haunting song Arizona, which I love Tucson as We retired here for the love of the Southwest from the frozen north Maine. To Me the 70's Music was a growing of age,culture life,love and every day was a new expierience.Loggans and Mesinna, Marshall Tucker, James Taylor,Van Morrisson,just to name a few greats for quiet head music.You could feel it in Your heart and soul. Now to pick up a couple of Fogelberg CD's pronto,and instead of My Bong at 65 ,I'll enjoy them with My Coffee cup out West...

  53. K.... L....

    Captivating strong song, always wondered if this song was based on an actual case, life event or story in Tucson?

  54. L.... A....

    Una de las grandes canciones que escuchaba en mi adolencia. Chile

  55. N.... ....

    The frightening thing is, I identify both with Dan's feelings of what happened and the woman's experience.

  56. M.... C....

    Never long enough, so powerful and a must listen all the way. Thanks

    M.... C....

    thank you listen all the way, it's a powerful song from Dan

  57. G.... C....

    greatest song of all time. I love the mariachis a true genius I cant stop listening and looking for the hidden messages

    G.... C....

    share with us if you find the hidden messages

  58. D.... H....

    I am determined to learn to play this song correctly but I never was good at spanish riffs so it's gonna take some effort.

    D.... H....

    no matter just try harder you'll make it!

  59. T.... Z....

    The music sadly talks to you about the lyrics.

  60. r.... b....

    i miss him.

  61. T.... B....

    This song is fine. Who plays lead guitar on this piece

  62. T.... Z....

    I Agree Dan ...where ever you are! It was the best!

    T.... Z....

    Oh and great job on the visuals appended to it. Only error i saw was the border patrol car. Tucson isn't really on the border.

  63. P.... S....

    I had this LP back in the 70s along with many other Dan Fogelberg LPs The Innocent Age still for me one of the best singer song writers ever such a massive sad loss to music and this song Tucson Arizona is his masterpiece

    P.... S....

    And how exactly did you have this LP back in the 70s,
    considering the WINDOWS AND WALLS album was released in 1984 ???

  64. T.... R....

    If this is his "best," what other "journalistic lyric writing" did Dan do?

    T.... R....

    Listen to Stars on his first
    album. That's a great song with alot of images too. Just love his use of lyrics. Fantastic music too!

  65. M.... T....

    Thanks for uploading this, I think this was his best album. Great job with the photos.

    M.... T....

    You are welcome, one of Dan's powerful song!

  66. A.... I....

    Por qué nadie te trajo a Chile maestro, Denver estuvo en viña solo faltaste tu Gran Dan Folgerberg

    A.... I....

    Andres Iturra por que en Chile no vende este tipo de artista, pero sí las modas pasajeras!. Y es así como se nos pasa el tren con grandes como Dan!

    A.... I....

    Andres Iturra trajeron a los grandes de la época..... excepto a Dan. Tremendo tema.....de la época donde realmente se hacía música!

    A.... I....

    Gran tema como pocos que se escuchan ahora

  67. A.... I....

    Solo decir, TEMON, Dan que voz y que interpretación solo tu puedes hacer una obra maestra cómo está, 8 minutos de un solo y mantenernos expectante con esta joya que es Tucson Arizona, mi carrera en otra vida será la de Musico, gracias Dan por esta joya musical

  68. M.... ....

    How I never heard this song before has made me sad. Awesome! Miss Dan

  69. A.... I....

    Is there any live record of this song? Hay algún registro en vivo de esta canción ????

  70. E.... M....

    Truly an epic masterpiece by a wonderful artist. I am honored.

  71. s.... a....

    My sons will remember me with this beautiful song :)

  72. J.... S....

    Tony was murdered!

  73. H.... G....

    Que épocas, buena música y recuerdos inolvidables.

  74. C.... P....

    Es uno de los temas más hermosos que existe de los años 70 y 80.

  75. M.... i....

    what's a fuck! the story is so sad.

  76. M.... R....

    In mine de mercis et moins humblement l'opinion? Windows and Wallis bécane et Dan Fogelberg's m'est l'album j'ai rêver Wittenheim and recorde fois le cas où bien à toi de as des relevages! Bécasse Il absolument captivantes moi je vais suis faîtes...
    When et moins hearing le sont Tuscon Arizona? I bécanes strates, but rater et moi recalé tous renseignements, bien fiesta tome M'a rêver égard tous sont, so j'apprends tous besoin directeur froment haine pas juste bougent le Musicalement Store. I Côté-là homme, tous immédiatement acteur mon une rappel fromages ou cellophane, I placeront ils besoins sont té turntable. merci! For the vert immédiatement dé mois d'avoir tous sont? Ils simplement stoppé le un mois Évry tracasserie! merci! Bécasse I fêlés à Cordialement of which jupon réflecteur, I discourtois virée mois l'appréciation de la Dan Fogelberg's complémentaire je veut absolument d'histoire de of complètement, je veut bien historique de most d'histoire et je vous génoise! Tous albumine is absolument, profondeur... My respectueuses for d'histoire d'hier soir je suis talentueuses, bien à toi et incréé bétons le élevées de considérés toutes thèses de lève-vitre de soucis je sonne différentes à planétaires, un mois toutes réalisations de chère moins considérés tout le histoire talentueuses, diarrhée bétonle angines à of I haine de thé seeing ans événement à béton à votre angines virales à la pâtes...
    🌞

  77. Z.... P....

    Just heard this on the deep end but didn't catch who it was. My lady said it sounded like Dan. She was right and you also posted what he said about the song, right on. thanks

  78. A.... ....

    25 years ago my dad heard this on the radio of his car. He never knew the name or the lyrics but it was like 2 days ago his friend gave him somethsomething so he could find out the song

  79. A.... H....

    Some pretty crazy guitar work around the seven minute mark. Pretty intense story - great visuals - found the song quite compelling when it came out; even more so with these visuals.

  80. b.... ....

    First time I have heard this song. It is good. The double album, The Innocent Age is his masterpiece. The Reach stands head and shoulders above all. I miss him

  81. R.... J....

    Beautifully orchestrated . The Spanish guitar adds spice to the flavor of the song. It's difficult to say if this is one of Fogelburgs masterpieces, only because, it's very crowded in there.

  82. j.... s....

    *What a freakin depressing song!!!*

    j.... s....

    joe strummer dude you need to change your meds and lay off the heavy drugs and call 911 for help

    j.... s....

    joe strummer dude the way you look i doubt you are still alive

  83. R.... K....

    I lived in Tucson Arizona for a short time. The memories never will leave me. Gotta go back there again. Most beautiful place in the west!

  84. M.... ....

    "Tucson, Arizona (Gazette)" ... is already a haunting song by Dan Fogelberg ... but it is your brilliant imagery, good JMEagle101... as cut together ... that which won't let me forget any of it too soon.

    In short, you expertly realized that last, real-life night ...
    ... those anguished hours ...
    ... that could only end in the raw violence ...
    ... that ultimately exploded from the sum total of "Tony's" desperate indigo soul and thus --

    -- poor "Mary Estelle Hanna's" too-trusting demise.

    BRAVO-!

    D.A.

    M.... ....

    thank you so much my friend

  85. g.... c....

    muy buen tema, no es de mi época pero me trae recuerdos de mi padre

    g.... c....

    Y DE MI PADRE TAMBIEN,

  86. b.... ....

    Dan should have been proud of this song. I agree it was very well written.

  87. C.... B....

    Mt. Lemon...what memories from the late 50s, early 60s.

  88. M.... H....

    Many thanks JMSounds like Dan on the nylon and lead? What a great song and tale--knew folks like this; we all do. Helps us remember them as they 'were' not as they weren't. Mochas G!

  89. m.... s....

    Having never been to the USA, Dan's songs paint the pictures for me, together with the video's you have produced. Don't think there will ever be an artist (in more than just the music sense) like Dan… a man of nature a true storyteller. Thank you for sharing all your video's and knowledge of Dan. Mark

    m.... s....

    appreciated my friend

  90. g.... ....

    Longer is better if it is good it is good and this is good!! Critics are a dime a dozen and usually trolls and haters anyway so who the hell listens to their opinion when you can have your own!!?? ∞

  91. T.... ....

    Capolavoro! Masterwork! Dan God bless you!

  92. G.... R....

    today, another year without dan....my respets...

  93. s.... ....

    Well done. A visual storytelling to compliment the song

  94. C.... S....

    Still, the greatest, sadest most powerful rock ballid ever performed. Still makes me cry after 40 years.

    C.... S....

    Right on! I'm playing over and over this song !

    C.... S....

    Carl Schroeder dude don't think of that way That's part of life stories from 50's thru 80's

    C.... S....

    Amen Carl!!!

    C.... S....

    Not the greatest, Dan made a really dumb mistake with this song, dont get why.
    8 minutes? Totally unnecessary. With 4 is enough!

    C.... S....

    @Octavio Castanedo What a freakin' idiot you are.

  95. B.... H....

    BRAVO! 'Nuff said.

    PEACE!

  96. H.... 3....

    So dark, but i still love it