El Paso

"Out in the west Texas town of El Paso, I fell in love with a Mexican girl."

So starts the classic cowboy ballad, El Paso, by Marty Robbins. I first heard a friend sing those 2 lines about 5 years ago. The tune stuck in my head, but the only lyrics I remembered were, "I fell in love with a Mexican girl." I had no idea what song it was or who sang it. Until last week.

My friend, Noah, swings by the bar. Randomly, I sing, "I fell in love with a Mexican girl." He starts cracking up. I assume, over the randomness of my tune. He says, "Marty Robbins! Rock on!" I was like, "Huh?" He wondered how I knew that lyric and tune, but didn't know the singer. "It's El Paso by Marty Robbins!" Once again, I tersely respond with a big, "Huh?" He reaches into his bag and pulls out a CD.

NO FUCKING WAY!

Yep, he had a Marty Robbins CD in his bag with the song on it!

That's not irony. (Pay attention, Alanis.) That's not coincidence. That's serendipity!

Needless to say, I went home and downloaded the tune and have been listening to it ever since. It's a tragic tale of a cowboy in love with a Mexican maiden named Felina. He challenges and kills a fellow suitor and goes on the lam. He returns to Rosa's Cantina to see her and is gunned down by a lynch mob. He dies in Felina's arms.

Damn! That's some serious cowboy loving! He didn't even hit that! Much less a kiss. Sheeesh. Those cowboys. So tough and romantic.

I mean, I fell in love with a Mexican girl once. But, we actually dated and she turned into a raving psychotic bitch. That posse saved you from a crazy chick, Marty!

Go listen to it. Really listen to the lyrics. You might believe in love at first sight again.

Or, that this guy is an idiot.

Hey, who am I to judge?

Comments

[yllwdaisies]

The same thing happened to me w/ "Rated X" by Loretta Lynn. I heard a great gal from NYC sing that song at a Steve Poltz show here in Cleveland. And she sang it w/ such heart, that I had it in my head foreva.