The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #73750   Message #1288810
Posted By: Stewie
04-Oct-04 - 11:48 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Tucumcari (Jimmy Driftwood)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Tucumcari (Jimmy Driftwood)
'Tucumcari' is on the second disc in the Bear Family Jimmie Driftwood 3-CD box set 'America' BCD15465. Jimmie's note to the song is similar to what was posted above by Cruiser:


I stopped in Tucumcari, New Mexico, at a gift shop and an Indian told me this story. I could not wait to write the song, as I heard it in my mind immediately. According to the legend, there was a great Indian chiefin what is now New Mexico. He had a daughter named Cari who loved the brave, Tucum. But another brave, the powerful, Tonopon, wanted her. The chief decreed that the suitors would fight and the survivor would marry his daughter. Tucum was fatally wounded. Thereupon Cari stabbed Tonopon, then herself. Overcome by grief, the Big Chief killed himself, and with his last breath cried, 'Tucum-Cari, Tucum-Cari'. So the Indians called the mountain Tucumcari. JD



--Stewie.