The first time we met   I lit a cigarette   In a dive bar in downtown TJ   I ordered two shots   Dropped a dime in the jukebox   And played 3Life By The Drop2 by Stevie Ray      She was eighteen years old   Young and out of control   A Catholic school girl with ruby red lips   With that she pulled me close   Said Baby let's toast to meeting you in a place like this      Oh Bella Maria   Was raised in East L.A   My Spanish rose from Mexico   Who stole my heart in TJ      The years have gone by   But from time to time   I still think of that night we shared   The last I heard she'd married divorced   Livin' not too far from here   Then one day in the Cuban caf?   I spotted those ruby red lips   She said I'll be your waitress today   What's the chances of me   Seeing you in a place like this      Oh Bella Maria   Was raised in East L.A   My Spanish rose from Mexico   Who stole my heart in TJ      In a rundown church   Out on the edge of town   Maria was dressed in white   She had flowers in her hair   The congregation stared as an angel walked down the aisle   Right there in God's house we exchanged our vows   And sealed the deal with a kiss   With that I pulled her close   Said, who would have know   We'd be meeting in a place like this      Oh Bella Maria   Was raised in East L.A   My Spanish rose from Mexico   Who stole my heart in TJ