Origins: Marty Robbins El Paso Trilogy

Subject: Lyr Req: Faleena (from El Paso)
From: Planetluvver
Date: 10 Nov 22 - 03:46 PM

Forgive me, but this seemed the best label. The song is in the database, but I am questioning some lyrics and I am asking for clarification.

In the second verse, we have "fartherly grieved to strife." I have seen some versions instead saying "poverty, grief, and strife." The latter makes more sense to me.

Here is one source showing the latter version of the phrase:

https://genius.com/Marty-robbins-feleena-from-el-paso-lyrics

Thanks you!

---

FELEENA (From El Paso) (in Digital Tradition)
An afternote: I am also wondering whether anyone knows of a published version. I am taking a singing class and the instructor requires a piano score. For now, I am just learning this by ear. But my ear is not very reliable!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Faleena (from El Paso)
From: keberoxu
Date: 10 Nov 22 - 06:21 PM

Isn't it Felina, though?
and,
Ballad of El Paso?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Faleena (from El Paso)
From: keberoxu
Date: 10 Nov 22 - 06:24 PM

So sorry, I got this wrong --
the song in the thread title is a sequel,
of which I was unaware.

Subject: DT Correction: Feleena (from El Paso)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Nov 22 - 06:32 PM

Note that there are lyrics at this link in the Digital Tradition at Mudcat. I posted the lyrics from genius.com here, and made a few corrections.
-Joe-

FELEENA (From El Paso)
(Marty Robbins

[DT LYRICS] Out in New Mexico, many long years ago There in a shack on the desert, one night in a storm Amid streaks of lightnin' and loud desert thunder To a young Mexican couple, a baby was born; Just as the baby cried, thunder and lightnin' died Moon gave it's light to the world and the stars did the same Mother and Father, both proud of the daughter That heaven had sent them, Feleena was this baby's name. When she was seventeen, bothered by crazy dreams She ran away from the shack and left them to roam Father and Mother, both asked one another What made her run away, what made Feleena leave home; Tired of the desert nights, fartherly grieved to strife She ran away late one night in the moon's golden gleam She didn't know where she'd go, but she'd get there And she would find happiness, if she would follow her dream. After she ran away, she went to Sante Fe And in the year that she stayed there, she learned about life In just a little while, she learned that with a smile She could have pretty clothes, she could be any man's wife; Rich men romanced her, they dined and they danced her She understood men and she treated them all just the same A form that was fine and rare, dark shining glossy hair Lovely to look at Feleena was this woman's name. Restless in Sante Fe, she had to get away To any town where the lights had a much brighter glow One cowboy mentioned the town of El Paso They never stopped dancin' and money like whiskey did flow; She bought a one-way, a ticket from Sante Fe Three days and nights on a stage with a rest now and then She didn't mind that, she knew she would find that Her new life would be more exciting than where she had been. The stage made it's last stop, up there on the mountain top To let her see all of the lights at the foot of the hill Her world was brighter and deep down inside her An uncontrolled beating, her young heart just wouldn't be still; She got a hotel, a room at the Lily Belle Quickly she changed to a form-fitting black satin dress Ev'ry man stopped to stare, at this form fine and rare Even the women remarked of the charm she possessed. Dancin' and laughter, was what she was after And Rosa's Cantina had lights, with love in the gleam That's what she hunted and that's what she wanted Rosa's was one place, a nice girl would never be seen; It was the same way, it was back in Sante Fe Men would make fools of themselves at the thought of romance Rosa took heed of, the place was in need of This kind of excitement, so she paid Feleena to dance. A year passed and maybe more and then through the swingin' doors Came a young cowboy so tall and so handsomely dressed This one was new in town, hadn't been seen around He was so different, he wasn't like all of the rest; Feleena danced close to him, then threw a rose to him Quickly he walked to her table and there he sat down And in a day or so, wherever folks would go They'd see this young cowboy, showin' Feelena the town. Six weeks he went with her, each minute spent with her But he was insanely jealous of glances she'd give Inside he was a-hurtin', from all of her flirtin' That was her nature and that was the way that she lived; She flirted one night, it started a gun-fight And after the smoke cleared away, on the floor lay a man Feleena's young lover, had shot down another And he had to leave there, so out through the back door he ran. The next day at five o'clock, she heard a rifle shot Quickly she ran to the door, that was facin' the pass She saw her cowboy, her wild-ridin' cowboy Low in the saddle, her cowboy was ridin' in fast; She ran to meet him, to kiss and to greet him He saw her and motioned her back, with a wave of his hand Bullets were flyin', Feleena was cryin' As she saw him fall from the saddle and into the sand. Feleena knelt near him, to hold and to hear him When she felt the warm blood that flowed from the wound in his side He raised to kiss her and she heard him whisper "Never forget me - Faleena it's over, goodbye." Quickly she grabbed for, the six-gun that he wore And screamin' in anger and placin' the gun to her breast Bury us both deep and maybe we'll find peace And pullin' the trigger, she fell 'cross the dead cowboy's chest. Out in El Paso, whenever the wind blows If you listen closely at night, you'll hear in the wind A woman is cryin', it's not the wind sighin' Old timer's tell you, Feleena is callin' for him; You'll hear them talkin' and you'll hear them walkin' You'll hear them laugh and you'll look, but there's no one around Don't be alarmed - there is really no harm there It's only the young cowboy, showin' Feleena the town.

(corrected lyrics in italics) [Verse 1] Out in New Mexico, many long years ago There in a shack on the desert, one night in a storm Amid streaks of lightnin' and loud desert thunder To a young Mexican couple, a baby was born Just as the baby cried, thunder and lightnin' died Moon gave its light to the world and the stars did the same Mother and Father, both proud of the daughter That heaven had sent them, Feleena was this baby's name [Verse 2] When she was seventeen, bothered by crazy dreams She ran away from the shack and left them to roam Father and Mother, both asked one another What made her run away, what made Feleena leave home Tired of the desert nights, poverty, grief and strife She went away late one night in the moon's golden gleam She didn't know where she'd go, but she'd get there And she would find happiness, if she would follow her dream [Verse 3] After she ran away, she went to Sante Fe And in the year that she stayed there, she learned about life In just a little while, she learned that with a smile She could have pretty clothes, she could be any man's wife Rich men romanced her, they dined and they danced her She understood men and she treated them all just the same A form that was fine and rare, dark shining glossy hair Lovely to look at Feleena was this woman's name [Verse 4] Restless in Sante Fe, she had to get away To any town where the lights had a much brighter glow One cowboy mentioned the town of El Paso They never stopped dancin' and money like whiskey did flow She bought a one-way, a ticket from Sante Fe Three days and nights on a stage with a rest now and then She didn't mind that, she knew she would find that Her new life would be more exciting than where she had been [Verse 5] The stage made its last stop, up there on the mountaintop To let her see all of the lights at the foot of the hill Her world was brighter and deep down inside her An uncontrolled beating, her young heart just wouldn't be still She got a hotel, a room at the Lily Belle Quickly she changed to a form-fitting black satin dress Ev'ry man stopped to stare, at this form, fine and rare Even the women remarked of the charm she possessed [Verse 6] Dancin' and laughter, was what she was after And Rosa's Cantina had lights, with love in the gleam That's what she hunted and that's what she wanted Rosa's was one place, a nice girl would never be seen It was the same way it was back in Sante Fe Men would make fools of themselves at the thought of romance Rosa took heed of, the place was in need of This kind of excitement, so she paid Feleena to dance [Verse 7] A year passed and maybe more and then through the swingin' doors Came a young cowboy so tall and so handsomely dressed This one was new in town, hadn't been seen around He was so different, he wasn't like all of the rest Feleena danced close to him, then threw a rose to him Quickly he walked to her table and there he sat down And in a day or so, wherever folks would go They'd see this young cowboy, showin' Feelena the town [Verse 8] Six weeks he went with her, each minute spent with her But he was insanely jealous of glances she'd give Inside he was a-hurtin' from all of her flirtin' That was her nature and that was the way that she lived She flirted one night, it started a gun-fight And after the smoke cleared away, on the floor lay a man Feleena's young lover had shot down another And he had to leave there, so out through the back door he ran [Verse 9] The next day at five o'clock, she heard a rifle shot Quickly she ran to the door that was facin' the pass She saw her cowboy, her wild-ridin' cowboy Low in the saddle, her cowboy was ridin' in fast She ran to meet him, to kiss and to greet him He saw her and motioned her back, with a wave of his hand Bullets were flyin', Feleena was cryin' As she saw him fall from the saddle and into the sand [Verse 10] Feleena knelt near him, to hold and to hear him When she felt the warm blood that flowed from the wound in his side He raised to kiss her and she heard him whisper "Never forget me - Feleena it's over, goodbye." Quickly she grabbed for the six-gun that he wore And screamin' in anger and placin' the gun to her breast Bury us both deep and maybe we'll find peace And pullin' the trigger, she fell 'cross the dead cowboy's chest [Verse 11] Out in El Paso, whenever the wind blows If you listen closely at night, you'll hear in the wind A woman is cryin', it's not the wind sighin' Old timers tell you, Feleena is callin' for him You'll hear them talkin' and you'll hear them walkin' You'll hear them laugh and you'll look, but there's no one around Don't be alarmed - there is really no harm there It's only the young cowboy, showin' Feleena the town

https://genius.com/Marty-robbins-feleena-from-el-paso-lyrics

El Paso Trilogy [El Paso, Feleena (from El Paso), El Paso City]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3RnSaXoj58

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Faleena/Feleena (from El Paso)
From: Planetluvver
Date: 10 Nov 22 - 07:17 PM

Actually, it is part of a trilogy. In addition to El Paso and Feleena (from El Paso), Marty Robbins wrote a third song, El Paso City. I read (or possibly saw a video) that Marty had planned a fourth song which was never written. Unfortunately, I can't find that source.

"El Paso City" is set in the modern day, the singer (looking down from an airplane) is reflecting on the story of the cowboy and Feleena.

Subject: ADD: El Paso City (Marty Robbins)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Nov 22 - 02:51 PM

EL PASO CITY
(Marty Robbins, 1976)

[Verse 1]
From thirty thousand feet above
The desert floor, I see it there below
A city with a legend
The west Texas city of El Paso
Where long ago I heard a song
About a Texas cowboy and a girl
And a little place called Rosa's
Where he used to go and watch this beauty whirl

I don't recall who sang the song
But I recall the story that I heard
And as I look down on the city
I remember each and every word
The singer sang about a jealous cowboy
And the way he used a gun
To kill another cowboy
Then he had to leave El Paso on the run

[Hook 1]
El Paso City, by the Rio Grande
The cowboy lived and rode away
But love was strong, he couldn't stay
He rode back just to die in that El Paso sand

El Paso City, by the Rio Grande
I try not to let you cross my mind
But still I find there's such a mystery in the song
That I don't understand

[Verse 2]
My mind is down there somewhere
As I fly above the badlands of New Mexico
I can't explain why I should know
The very trail he rode back to El Paso
Can it be that man can disappear from life and live another time?
And does the mystery deepen
Cause you think that you yourself lived in that other time?

Somewhere in my deepest thoughts
Familiar scenes and memories unfold
These wild and unexplained emotions that I've had so long
But I have never told
Like every time I fly up through the heavens
And I see you there below
I get the feeling sometime in another world I lived in El Paso

[Hook 2]
El Paso City, by the Rio Grande
Could it be, that I could be
The cowboy in this mystery
That died there in that desert sand so long ago?

El Paso City, by the Rio Grande
A voice tells me to go and see
Another voice, keeps tellin' me
Maybe death awaits me in El Paso

El Paso City.....

Lyrics taken from genius.com and reviewed for correctness.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeL1Vjz8ves

Subject: Lyr Add: EL PASO (Marty Robbins)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Nov 22 - 02:55 PM

Planetluvver, I hope you don't mind if I make this into an "origins" thread with corrected lyrics for all three songs. Here are the Digital Tradition lyrics for "El Paso." I'll review for correctness later.

EL PASO

SOURCE: Bob Pfeffer

SOURCE'S SOURCE: Marty Robbins (1959)

TEXT:
D e
Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
A7 D
I fell in love with a Mexican girl
D e
Nighttime would find me in Rosa's cantina
A7 D
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

G C G D7 G
One night a wild young cowboy came in
G D7
Wild as the West Texas wind
D7
Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing
D7 G
With wicked Felina, the girl that I loved

A7 D e
So in anger I challenged his right for the love of this
maiden
A7 D
Down went his hand for the gun that he wore
D e
My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat
A7 D
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 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, then Felina goodbye.

Copyright Unichapell Music, Inc.
@outlaw @love @murder
filename[ ELPASO
TUNE FILE: ELPASO
CLICK TO PLAY
RPf

Popup Midi Player

Subject: DT Correction: El Paso (Marty Robbins)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Nov 22 - 03:01 PM

EL PASO
(Marty Robbins, 1959)

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 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, then Felina goodbye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q9bAWGEkcE


I found only one minor mistake in the DT lyrics, but I hate the formatting and the italics. I also hate to see lyrics with chords mixed in, but I have to admit this is a matter of personal preference. I like to see the whole song with lyrics set out in poetic form. and then the lyrics repeated with chords at the end.

Oh, and here is a playlist for the entire Gunfighter Ballads album: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oM48GjxbQc&list=PLrpyDacBCh7BF4aJvXAaLjdOckl_nW0Tq

Subject: RE: Origins: Marty Robbins El Paso Trilogy
From: gillymor
Date: 11 Nov 22 - 04:04 PM

El Paso is about as close as it comes to being a perfect song, IMO.

It even survived Steve Martin "monkeying" with it.

Subject: RE: Origins: Marty Robbins El Paso Trilogy
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Nov 22 - 07:07 PM

If Steve Martin had never done anything else, he justified his craft with this one....