Down in the west Texas town of El Paso...

For those of you too young to remember the original release of the enormous classic hit El Paso written and performed by one of my all time favorite singer song writers Marty Robbins, here's the original lyrics:

EL PASO
Marty Robbins
- words and music by Marty Robbins

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 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 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 will 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 seethe 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, then Felina good-bye

I just needed to share that for posterity's sake. God knows Marty is long dead and gone (tears in my eyes). This is not my favorite Marty Robbins songs though. My favorite Marty Robbins song was called The Chair.

The Chair, words and music by Marty Robbins

All night long , I tried, but couldn't sleep

Tried to be a man, tried not to weep

Now, I hear the turning of the key

Silently, the guard motions to me

Now, I realize the end is near

And I find I can't control my fear

As I pass the guard, I start to cry

And I whisper, " I don't want to die"

Then, from Death Row comes a whisper "Charlie, be a man"

Then, I scream, "Just wait 'til your turn

Then, see if you can" Down the hall, they push and carry me

Blind with fright and tears won't let me see

Through a door and then, I stop and stare '

Cause I see it, there it is, the chair

Then, they strap me in and turn to leave

And the Prison Chaplain says,

"Believe Faith in God will cause Him to forgive"

I have faith, but still, I wanna live

Suddenly, I'm paralized

This must be the end

My body jerks and trembles

And they turn it on again

As quickly as it came, the pain is gone I hear music.

Someone sings a song

Suddenly, I seem to float through air

Something's wrong, 'cause I'm still in the chair

In the room, there's hardly any light

And I see the Doctor dressed in white

I hear every word that's plainly said

Did I hear him say, "This man is dead"

This was a number one hit on the country charts back when I was 17. Patty Pipkin and I loved it. Marty Robbins was a prolific song writer. You would be hard pressed to find someone who wrote more than he did (there are people who did btw). You don't hear much from Marty past the early 1970's and up until his death. He was working though, pretty much right up until his death. People like Marty and Roy Orbison where real heros to me. I loved their writing and their velvet falsettos.

http://members.aol.com/kkcowgirl/mrobbins.htm

Marty died long before the advent of the internet (in fact there was no such thing as PCs back then, at least not as we know them today).

My hat's off to you Marty. Even though you have been dead 22 years, there are those of us who will never forget you, nor how you touched our lives.