EL PASO
MARTY ROBBINS
SONGWRITER:
COUNTRY: U.S.A.
ALBUM: GUNFIGHTER BALLADS
LABEL: COLUMBIA
GENRE: COUNTRY BALLAD
YEAR: 1959
"EL PASO" IS A country and
western ballad written and originally recorded by Marty Robbins, and first released on Gunfighter
Ballads and Trail Songs in September 1959. It was released as a single the following month, and became a major hit on both
the country and pop music charts, reaching number one in both at the start of
1960. It won the Grammy Award for Best Country
& Western Recording in 1961, and remains Robbins' best-known song. It is
widely considered a genre classic for its gripping narrative which ends in the
death of its protagonist, its shift from past to present tense, haunting
harmonies by vocalists Bobby Sykes and Jim Glaser (of the Glaser Brothers) and
the eloquent and varied Spanish
guitar accompaniment by Grady Martin that lends the recording a distinctive
Tex-Mex feel. The name of the character Faleena was based upon a schoolmate of
Robbins in the fifth grade — Fidelina Martinez.
Out
in the West Texas town of El Paso
I
fell in love with a Mexican girl
Night-time
would find me in Rosa's cantina
Music
would play and Felina would whirl
Blacker
than night were the eyes of Felina
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 Felina
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 heart-beat
The
handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor
Just
for a moment I stood there in silence
Shocked
by the bountiful 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 bad-lands 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 Felina 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
Felina
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 Felina 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 Felina, good-bye
Postagens
