Monday August 22, 2022 “El Paso” Marty Robbins

John Ford passed away in August of 1973.  He was the director of many classic western films including the John Wayne movie The Searchers which a very credible movie source recently  suggested to me may be the best western ever made.  Taking all that into consideration I thought we would head out into the musical wild, wild west this week, so saddle up.

We will begin our adventure out in the west Texas town of El Paso at Rita Cantina…sorry Rosa’s Cantina, with a story of a love so strong that it pushes our narrator to risk his life for the simple pleasure of being cradled by the two loving arms that he'll die for and for one final kiss from his love, Feleena.

And in true cowboy fashion this song has every element of a classic western.  There’s drinking, dancing, a gun fight, some wild horse chases, romance, more gunplay and ultimately a sad ending for our narrator.  Hope I didn't ruin it for you. You’ll excuse the metaphor but I promise the song will be worth the ride.

“El Paso” is one of my favorite story songs, it includes fine music, well constructed lyrics and is told in ¾ time and I don’t know why but, for me it has one of the more memorable lyrics during the horse chase: “I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle, I feel the bullet go deep in my chest”

Stay safe and well…and  take a deep breath as you get into this great love story packed with wild exploits and drama as we begin our own adventure living in the wild, wild west.

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso

I fell in love with a Mexican girl

Nighttime would find me in Rosa's Cantina

Music would play and Feleena would whirl

 Blacker than night were the eyes of Feleena

Wicked and evil while casting a spell

My love was deep for this Mexican maiden

I was in love, but in vain, I could tell

 One night, a wild young cowboy came in

Wild as the West Texas wind

Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing

With wicked Feleena, the girl that I loved

 So in anger, I challenged his right for the love of this maiden

Down went his hand for the gun that he wore

My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat

The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor

 Just for a moment I stood there In silence

Shocked by the foul evil deed I had done

Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there

I had but one chance and that was to run

 Out through the back door of Rosa's I ran

Out where the horses were tied

I caught a good one, it looked like it could run

Up on its back, and away I did ride

Just as fast as I could from the West Texas town of El Paso

Out to the badlands of New Mexico

 Back in El Paso, my life would be worthless

Everything's gone in life, nothing is left

It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden

My love is stronger than my fear of death

 I saddled up and away I did go

Riding alone in the dark

Maybe tomorrow, a bullet may find me

Tonight, nothing's worse than this pain in my heart

And at last here I am on the hill overlooking El Paso

I can see Rosa's Cantina below

My love is strong and it pushes me onward

Down off the hill to Feleena I go

 Off to my right, I see five mounted cowboys

Off to my left ride a dozen or more

Shouting and shooting, I can't let them catch me

I have to make it to Rosa's back door

 Something is dreadfully wrong, for I feel

A deep burning pain in my side

Though I am trying to stay in the saddle

I'm getting weary, unable to ride

 But my love for Feleena is strong and I rise where I've fallen

Though I am weary, I can't stop to rest

I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle

I feel the bullet go deep in my chest

 From out of nowhere, Feleena has found me

Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side

Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for

One little kiss and Feleena, goodbye