It was the ferris wheel Going round and round Every year in mid-September at the fairgrounds I wouldn't wait my turn For the Tilt-A-Whirl So my quarters got me a four-state view Of the whole wide world Red dirt crossing county lines And that red river was not the picture in mind Going up for a panorama Clear over Texarkana One foot of mine was bearing down While the other heard the city bell that called me outta town It was the slowest ride on the oldest train Circles barely touching, who I was and who I became But we see what we wanna see Just to see straight, sometimes you have to leave Going up for a panorama Clear over Texarkana A real-life diorama To a starry-eyed pollyanna That panorama Clear over Texarkana