EL PASO

(Marty Robbins)

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 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 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

EXCUSE ME, I THINK I'VE GOT A HEARTACHE

(Owens, Howard)

They just don't know
How lost I feel without you
My teardrops never see the light of day
I laugh and joke each time they talk about you
But if they heard my heart they'd hear it say

Excuse me, I think I've got a heartache
There's an aching deep inside
And it just won't be denied
Excuse me, I think I've got a heartache
And I'd better say goodbye before I cry 

I guess it's pride that makes me hide my sorrow
I live a lie in all I do and say 
My lips may lie and paint a bright tomorrow
But if I told the truth I'd have to say 

Excuse me, I think I've got a heartache
There's an aching deep inside
And it just won't be denied
Excuse me, I think I've got a heartache
And I'd better say goodbye before I cry 

And I'd better say goodbye before I cry 

TARNISHED ANGEL

(Roger Miller)

Your halo is the neon 

Your heart a jukebox song 

Your heaven is a honky tonk 

You love to live so wrong 

I know your not a-changin' 

As a saint you've gained no fame 

My angel's kinda tarnished 

But I love her just the same  

Tarnished angel  

From a back street bar 

Tarnished angel 

I want you just as you are  

Our worlds are strange and different 

But love they say is blind 

I'll try to live in your world 

If you won't live in mine

OLD FIVE AND DIMERS (LIKE ME)

(Billy Joe Shaver)

I've spent the lifetime 

Making up my mind to be
More than the measure 

Of what I thought others could see
Good luck and fast bucks 

Are too far and too few between
Catalogue buyers and old five and dimers like me

She stood beside me 

Letting me know she would be
Something to lean on 

When everything ran out on me
Fenced yards ain't hole cards 

And like is not never will be
Reason for rhymers and old five and dimers like me

It's taking me so long 

And now that I know I believe
All that I do or say 

Is all I ever will be
Too far and too high 

And too deep ain't too much to be
Too much ain't enough for old five and dimers like me

Yeah, an old five and dimer is all I really meant to be

HOMECOMING

(Tom T. Hall)

I guess I should've written, Dad To let you know that I was coming home I've been gone so many years I didn't realize you had a phone I saw your cattle coming in Boy, they're looking mighty fat and slick I saw Fred at the service station He told me that his wife is awful sick You heard my record on the radio Oh, well, it's just another song But I've got a hit recorded It'll be out on the market before too long I got this ring in Mexico And no, it didn't cost me quite a bunch When you're in the business that I'm in The people call it putting up a front I know I've lost a little weight I guess I'm looking kind of pale If you didn't know me better, Dad You'd think that I'd just gotten out of jail No, we don't ever call them beer joints Night clubs are the places that I work You meet a lot of people there But no, there ain't much chance of getting hurt I'm sorry that I couldn't be here with you all When Momma passed away I was on the road and when they came and told me It was just too late I drove by the grave to see her Boy, that really is a pretty stone I'm glad that Fred and Jan are here It's better than you being here alone Well, I knew you's gonna ask me Who the lady is that's sleeping in the car That's just a girl who works for me And, man, she plays a pretty mean guitar We worked in San Antone last night She didn't even have the time to dress She drove me down from Nashville And to tell the truth I guess she needs the rest Well, Dad, I gotta go We got a dance to work in Cartersville tonight Let me take your number down I'll call you, and I promise you I'll write Now, you be good and don't be chasing All those pretty women that you know And by the way, if you see Barbara Walker Tell her that I said Hello

WHEN I STOP DREAMING

(Charlie & Ira Louvin)

The worst that I've ever been hurt in my life
The first time I ever wanted to die
Was the night when you told me you loved someone new
And asked me if I could forget

When I stop dreaming
That's when I'll stop loving you

I'd be like a flower unwanted in spring
Alone and neglected, transplanted in vain
To a garden of sadness where its pedals will fall
In the shadow of undying pain

You can teach the flowers to bloom in the snow
You may take a pebble and teach it to grow
You can teach all the raindrops to return to the clouds
But you can't teach my heart to forget

When I stop dreaming
That's when I'll stop loving you

LONELY STREET

(Belew, Sowder, Stevenson)

I'm looking for that lonely street
I've got a sad, sad tale to tell
I need a place to go and weep
Where's this place called lonely street?

A place where there's just loneliness
Where dim lights bring forgetfulness
Where broken dreams and memories meet
Where's this place called lonely street?

Maybe on this lonely street
There's someone such as I
Who came to bury broken dreams
And watch an old love die

A place where there's just loneliness
Where dim lights bring forgetfulness
Where broken dreams and mem'ries meet
Where's this place called lonely street?

 I LOVE YOU SO MUCH IT HURTS

(Floyd Tillman)

I love you so much it hurts me

Darlin', that's why I'm so blue

I'm afraid to go to bed at night

Afraid of losing you

I love you so much it hurts me

And there's nothing I can do

I want to hold you my dear, forever and ever

I love you so much it hurts so

I want to hold you my dear, forever and ever

I love you so much it hurts so

DO-WACKA-DO                                                                               (Roger Miller) I hear tell you’re doin’ well Good thing have come to you I wish I had your happiness And you had a do-wacka-do Wacka do, wacka-do, wacka-do They tell me you’re runnin’ free Your days are never blue I wish I had your good-luck charm And you had a do-wacka-do Wacka do, wacka-do, wacka-do Yeah, I see you’re goin’ down the street In your big Cadillac You got girls in the front, you got girls in the back Yeah, way in back, you got money in a sack Both hands on the wheel And your shoulders rared back Root-doot-doot-doot-doot, do-wah I hear tell you’re doin’ well, Good things have come to you. I wish I had your happiness And you had a do-wacka-do, Wacka do, wacka-do, wacka-do

THAT'S HOW I GOT TO MEMPHIS 

                             (Tom T. Hall)

If you love somebody enough
You'll follow wherever they go
That's how I got to Memphis
That's how I got to Memphis

If you love somebody enough
You'll go where your heart wants to go
That's how I got to Memphis
That's how I got to Memphis

I know if you'd seen her you'd tell me 'cause you are my friend
I've got to find her and find out the trouble she's in

If you tell me that she's not here
I'll follow the trail of her tears
That's how I got to Memphis
That's how I got to Memphis

She would get mad and she used to say
That she'd come back to Memphis someday
That's how I got to Memphis
That's How I Got to Memphis

I haven't eaten a bite
Or slept for three days and nights
That's how I got to Memphis
That's how I got to Memphis

I've got to find her and tell her that I love her so
I'll never rest 'til I find out why she had to go

Thank you for your precious time
Forgive me if I start to cryin'
That's how I got to Memphis

That's how I got to Memphis

SUGAR COATED PILL

                  (Cartwright-Lilien)

I knew it had to come

And now I know it's here

Now I know that I've lost you

At least I'm free from fear

But do me one last favor

Don't be too honest, dear

Let me down easy

And I'll hold back my tears

Say you love me still

Say it's just until

Say one day we will

And baby, don't you know

That I will swallow whole

Every sugar coated pill

I recognize the look

You're wearing in your eye

Last time I wore that look

I made somebody cry

So when you break it to me

Go right ahead and lie

Let me down easy

'Cause I've been riding high

Say you love me still

Say it's just until

Say one day we will

And baby, don't you know

That I will swallow whole

Every sugar coated pill