This song characterizes the basketball player on the album cover. The title is a reversal of the title of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel This Side of Paradise. “This is musically my favorite track on the… Read More [Verse 1: Dave Bayley] When I was young and stupid My love left to be a rock and roll star He told me, "Please, don't worry" Wise little smile that spoke so safely He booked a one-way ticket Out west, that's where they make it Six kids stuck in a bedsit To sunswept poolside riches [Verse 2: Dave Bayley] He met a girl who wore Versace Pink feather coats and jumbo jewelry​ Gonna be a hoop phenomenon He's gonna be Hakeem Olajuwon He's got a gold Camaro He said over the payphone I try to keep my cool, but My life turns in slow motion [Chorus: Dave Bayley] Bye-bye, baby, blue I wish you could see the wicked truth Caught up in a rush, it's killin' you Screamin' at the sun you blow into Curled up in a grip when we were us Fingers in a fist like you might run I settle for a ghost I never knew Super paradise I held on to But, I settle for a ghost [Verse 3: Dave Bayley] Where I was from, in NOLA No one left to be a rock and roll star He'd stay and treat his lady Give everything to his new baby I miss him, don't you blame me? That boy went stone cold crazy Caught up in camera lust He's chasin' that pappy pipe dream [Bridge: Dave Bayley] (Ooh, ooh) I know you don't, but I— I know you don't, but I still try My thunder shook him down My thunder came and shook him down That girl is gone, but I— That girl is gone, but I still try I think it's over now The bullet hit, but maybe not I feel so fuckin' numb It hits my head, and I feel numb My body's lookin' wrong My body's lookin' wrong My body's lookin' wrong [Chorus: Dave Bayley] Bye-bye, baby, blue I wish you could see the wicked truth Caught up in a rush, it's killin' you Screamin' at the sun you blow into Curled up in a grip when we were us Fingers in a fist like you might run I settle for a ghost I never knew Super paradise I held on to But, I settle for a ghost