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Subject: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: Barry Finn Date: 06 Jan 03 - 08:11 PM I just heard this song for a 2nd time on a folk station (WUMB) & it just grabbed me by the throat & directed my voice to start singing it. I don't know the author or the song's title but I did manage to get the chorus down. Here it is: Carmalita, hold me tighter I think I'm sinking down I'm all strung out on heroin On the outskirts of town. Thanks for any & all help. Barry |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: Jeri Date: 06 Jan 03 - 08:21 PM Warren Zevon wrote it, but I know Linda Ronstadt also recorded the song. Will see if I can scare up lyrics unless someone else gets 'em first. |
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Subject: Lyr Add: CARMELITA (Warren Zevon) From: michaelr Date: 06 Jan 03 - 08:32 PM From here: CARMELITA Written By Warren Zevon published by Warner-Tamerlane/Darkroom Music BMI, 1972 I hear Mariachi static on my radio And the tubes they glow in the dark And I'm there with her in Ensenada And I'm here in Echo Park Carmelita hold me tighter I think I'm sinking down And I'm all strung out on heroin On the outskirts of town Well, I'm sittin' here playing solitaire With my pearl-handled deck The county won't give me no more methadone And they cut off your welfare check Carmelita hold me tighter I think I'm sinking down And I'm all strung out on heroin On the outskirts of town Well, I pawned my Smith Corona And I went to meet my man He hangs out down on Alvarado Street By the Pioneer chicken stand Carmelita hold me tighter I think I'm sinking down And I'm all strung out on heroin On the outskirts of town Carmelita hold me tighter I think I'm sinking down And I'm all strung out on heroin On the outskirts of town |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: Barry Finn Date: 06 Jan 03 - 08:34 PM I found it, thanks Jeri. Duh, try the forum, found this in an old thread. Barry
Subject: RE: A Song That Moved You? Neil, the line you mention is from a Warren Zevon-penned song, it's called "Carmelita".
I hear mariachi static on my radio
Carmelita, hold me tighter, I think I'm sinking down
Well I'm sitting here playing solitaire Carmelita etc.
I pawned my Smith-Corona Carmelita etc. Regards, LEJ
Now if only I could grab hold of the tune? Any other ideas |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: Barry Finn Date: 06 Jan 03 - 08:37 PM Hi Michaelr, Thanks & thanks for the extra toppings too. Barry |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: masato sakurai Date: 06 Jan 03 - 08:38 PM It's "Carmelita" by Warren Zevon. Click here for the lyrics. ~Masato |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: michaelr Date: 06 Jan 03 - 08:43 PM WOW -- I beat Masato to the posting! That's never happened before... Yer welcome, Barry. Great song. Cheers, Michael |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: Thomas the Rhymer Date: 06 Jan 03 - 08:56 PM So uhhhh, what's the point of singing this? I'm not being very snide here, but by the looks of it, I'm unable to get any good feeling from this song. Junkies? Oh, great! When you watch a friend go down, it's not cool. When you've seen a bunch, songs like this are a lot like fingernails down a blackboard. Sorry, my truth...ttr |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: Jeri Date: 06 Jan 03 - 09:00 PM The site Masato linked to has a link titled "mp3 snippet," so you can probably get the tune from there. Careful Barry, I just about know the song. Have to force myself to be quiet when you do it. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: Jeri Date: 06 Jan 03 - 10:00 PM Thomas, I thought your question asked generally might make for an interesting thread. Started Why Do We Like Depressing Music? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: Barry Finn Date: 06 Jan 03 - 10:44 PM Hey Jeri, couldn't figure out how to find the tune. I don't yet have the tune, except for the chorus. If you got it I'd be happy to get behind you on the chorus. Thanks Masato for the help & the link. Hi Thomas, what can I say, no accounting for taste. I happen to like it. I don't often sing "good feelings" songs & this, IMHO is not one of those, if anything a sad, hard times songs. About watching people go down this way, not cool for sure, though I've lost most if not every close friend I ever had from my teens & twenties (no blackboard sound, just an heavy heart). It's a sad thing for me to know that I have no friends alive (that I know of) from my younger days. If anything I'd think songs like this would bring insite to the seedier side of life. The side that's not talked of or seen from or even heard about, maybe with a bit exposure there'd be more understanding, education & help. Then maybe you & I wouldn't have had to see so many fall. Ever watch junkies outside of a methadone clinic waiting for their free dose of a government dispensed drug for more addicting than heroin, a drug that'll kill you if you try to kick cold turkey, a drug that takes a minimun of at least 6 months (physically) to slowly creep away from. They know that their life has no meaning, no hope of a light at the end of their tunnel, they're are dead men walking with no place to go to, except for an unmarked hole in the ground. There are othersongs that envoke a singable saddness in me, "Down Where The Drunkards Roll" (Richard Thomson), Tim Buckley's "Morning Glory", "He's Only a Hobo", "Johnny My Man". Songs of the downtrodden are sung (no matter who or what got them there), it seem's, the world over, must be a feeling to them that catches the ear & heart. Barry |
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Subject: Chords Add: CARMELITA (Warren Zevon) From: GUEST Date: 07 Jan 03 - 04:30 PM As far as the tune... It follows a simple I-IV-V7 pattern ....you choose the key based on your vocal range. For example, the key of C: (C) I hear mariachi music on my radio, The tubes they glow in the (G7)dark, I'm there with her in Ensenada, And I'm here in Echo (C)Park (F)Carmelita, hold me tighter, I (C)think I'm sinking (G7)down, and I'm (C)all strung out on heroin, on the (G7)outskirts of (C)town The pattern then is: I-V7-I for the verse; IV-I-V7-I-V7-I for the chorus. Seems like Linda Rondstat played it in C; Zevon in E. Or vice versa. Hope this helps. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: GUEST Date: 07 Jan 03 - 04:41 PM ..also an interesting-insignificant aside regarding Ronstadt and Zevon's recordings. Ronstadt sang "I pawned my Smith & Wesson" in the third verse... wondering if that was intentional? As if she could handle the idea of drug addiction but not suicidal thoughts? Or was it an unintentional lyric change? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: Jeri Date: 07 Jan 03 - 05:16 PM Maybe the Smith & Wesson change wass just a mistake or she didn't think other folks would understand he pawned a typewriter. Doesn't make sense if the subject's still playing solitaire with a pearl-handled deck. Think I'd do the chorus as: (F)Carmelita, hold me tighter, I (C)think I'm sinking (F)down, and I'm (C)all strung out on hero(G)in, on the (G7)outskirts of (C)town Of course it's been a while since I heard it and I may have a different idea of the tune. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: GUEST,Arkie Date: 08 Jan 03 - 05:30 PM Dwight Yoakam also does this song. It is on a recording with Flaco Jiminez called Partners that teams Jiminez with a number of other artists. There a many good songs on that recording. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 08 Jan 03 - 05:36 PM "Your tiny hand is frozen" - except it was absinthe in those days. Nobody seems to object to Puccini's opera though. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: GUEST Date: 08 Jan 03 - 06:13 PM "Doesn't make sense if the subject's still playing solitaire with a pearl-handled deck." Now I'm confused. I always looked at the verses as a sequence of events, in chronological order. First, Zevon's listening to the radio, then he's contemplating suicide as he plays with the 'pearl handled deck.' But he lives on in the third verse to pawn off his typewriter and score some drugs. Ronstadt's version follows the same sequence, it seems, but instead the subject lives to pawn off his pearl handled deck, etc. Subject to interpretation, and I bet neither Ronstadt nor Zevon analyzed these particular lyrics in such detail. My mistake on the chords in the chorus, Jeri. Your version is correct, as you know, especially on the 'sinking (F)down,' tho I still stick with hanging on in C until 'outskirts.' I'm only 'hearing' it in my head, tho, not being able to play and sing it right at this moment. I will do so however, when I get back to the crib. Wouldn't be the first or last time I was wrong about something. I have the CD at home - like you, it's been a while since I heard/played along with it. I just wish I could cover Zevon's lead guitarist on that song during the acoustic break. I seem to recollect some mighty tasty stuff she or he did in there. As I'm listening to the tune in my head, seems like I hear the melody floating around a major third up to about a fifth above the root. For the C chord in the verse, that would be back and forth from E to G. Does that sound about right? My mental 'ear' isn't that well tuned. But was that what Finn meant when he said he was trying to get a handle on the tune? Or did he just want the chords? It's been a pleasure. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: Jeri Date: 08 Jan 03 - 07:47 PM I hear the melody during the C chord as going from C to E then back down to C. Unfortunately, I have Zevon's recording on vinyl and I STILL haven't found it! Now I really want to hear it so I can listen to that acoustic break you mention. Editing myself: I think I'd put the G at the beginning of "heroin," not in the middle like I did. As to the sequence of events, I thought the pawning and meeting his man happened in the past - he was telling what he'd already done. The rest of the song is happening while he's singing. "Sitting here" vs "pawned" in the past tense. It's not that I really analyze things like this. Just explaining why I thought he was saying what I thought he was saying. Barry was looking for the actual tune as he doesn't do chords as far as I know. I'll probably see him on Saturday and can sing it, but I should really find the recording and make sure I have the tune right first. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: Barry Finn Date: 08 Jan 03 - 11:21 PM Thanks to all of you for all this info. I would also lean towards 'pearl handled' ???(firearm, derringer or pistol of some sort, a type of knife?), being something other than 'deck'. Smith & Wesson makes far more sense. A junkie lamenting his typewriter??? He'd be far more likely to own a handgun that he might cherish. I also suspect radio 'tubes' that glow in the dark, you'd be going way back for that kind raido? It'd be great Jeri if I can get the tune from you, I still think I'm going Saturday. Thanks |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: Jeri Date: 09 Jan 03 - 12:17 AM Zevon has a tendency to be poetic. It IS "pearl handled deck" and it IS "Smith-Corona." My guess is, he's playing some version of Russian roulette. And it sounds like a writer who's given up on writing to buy more drugs. "Smith-Corona" sounds enough like "Smith & Wesson to sort of surprise the ear, as does "pearl handled deck." Just poetic word-play. I may have made a tape of this and another Zevon album. If so, you'll get to hear it from the author. (Not promising anything - can't find my own butt sometimes and it probably doesn't move as much as the tape.) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin son From: Ken Schatz Date: 09 Jan 03 - 12:49 AM Great song! It's meaning and power shine through if you listen to it in the context of the whole album: the groovy self-titled "Warren Zevon". Which starts out with a cool take on the ballad of Frank and Jesse James, by the way. Much very singable poetry... Also highly recommended: Zevon's album Sentimental Hygiene, and for you heroin song junkies, nothing beats Lou Reed's "Heroin," on the first Velvet Underground album (the one with Nico and Warhol's banana.) |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: GUEST Date: 09 Jan 03 - 01:57 PM Jeri...went back to the crib as promised and listened to Zevon's 'Carmelita.' Your chord changes for the chorus were more complete than mine. And Zevon does the song in the key of E. Regarding the verses: Verb tenses didn't even figure into my sequence of events. I completely missed that. Duh. Also, I'd forgotten what a cast of luminaries had assembled for Zevon's debut album: Jackson Browne; Bonnie Raitte; Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mack; Don Henley and Glen Frey of The Eagles. Waddy Watchell and another guitarist - whose name escapes my feeble memory - did the acoustic solos on 'Carmelita,' in a Tex/Mex sort of style (realizing that description doesn't say much, but that's what comes to mind) reminiscient at times of Old Mexico. I fell in love with the song all over again. Thanks for this thread. It's been real. Hope you find the vinyl or your tape. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: Jeri Date: 09 Jan 03 - 02:31 PM I FOUND IT! Same place I already looked twice. Waddy Watchell: guitar David Lindley: guitar Glen Frey: rhythm guitar & harmony Warren Zevon: electric piano Bob Glaub: bass Larry Zack: drums Album's also got Phil Everly, John David Souther, Jackson Browne, Carl Wilson, plus the in-betweener string arrangments by Zevon. Oy. And songs like Hasten Down the Wind, Backs Turned Looking Down the Path, Mohammed's Radio and Desperados Under the Eaves ... Don't the sun look angry through the trees |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: GUEST Date: 09 Jan 03 - 07:44 PM ...yep - forgot about Phil Everly being on there too. Kinda forgot what a jewel this Zevon debut really was. Poor Poor Pitiful Me was another gem in addition to Carmelita that Ronstadt liked well enough to cover ... Finn gives great thread. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Carmalita, hold me tighter-heroin song From: Arkie Date: 10 Jan 03 - 12:12 AM Until this thread started, I've always heard "pearl handled gat" which made more sense to me as I've never heard of a pearl handled deck. Just let my mind take over when hearing failed I guess. But then I've never required songs to make sense to be enjoyed. |
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