Carmelita
Adam Duritz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The lyrics to Adam Duritz's song Carmelita depict the life of a man who is struggling with addiction to heroin, poverty, and loneliness. The song starts with the singer hearing Mariachi music on the radio, which takes him back to a time when he was with a girl named Carmelita in Ensenada, a coastal city in Baja California, Mexico. The contrast between Ensenada and Echo Park, a neighborhood in Los Angeles, represents the singer's current situation, where he is physically present in Echo Park but mentally stuck in the past with his memories of Carmelita. He sings that he is strung out on heroin and sinking down, which reveals his desperation and the depth of his addiction.
The second stanza talks about his current situation in Echo Park, where he is playing solitaire with his pearl-handled deck while waiting for his next hit. He mentions that the county won't give him any more methadone, which was used as a treatment for heroin addiction, and his welfare check has been cut off, which highlights his struggle with poverty. The last stanza talks about his attempt to buy heroin by pawning his typewriter and meeting with his dealer in Alvarado Street, where he hangs out by the Pioneer chicken stand.
Overall, the song paints a bleak picture of the consequences of addiction and poverty, and how they can lead to a life of hopelessness and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear Mariachi static on my radio
I am hearing the sound of Mariachi music on my radio, which is breaking up due to poor reception.
And the tubes they glow in the dark
The vacuum tubes inside the radio are emitting a faint glow in the dark.
And I'm there with her in Ensenada
I am remembering a time when I was with Carmelita in Ensenada, Mexico.
And I'm here in Echo Park
But now I am in Echo Park, Los Angeles.
Carmelita hold me tighter
I am asking Carmelita to hold me closer because I feel like I am losing control.
I think I'm sinking down
I am feeling overwhelmed and like I am sinking into a dark place mentally.
And I'm all strung out on heroin
I am addicted to heroin, which is contributing to my negative feelings.
On the outskirts of town
I am currently living on the fringes of society and away from the mainstream.
Well, I'm sittin' here playing solitaire
I am passing the time by playing a game of solitaire.
With my pearl-handled deck
My deck of cards has a fancy pearl handle, which is a detail of my past life before I became strung out on drugs.
The county won't give me no more methadone
I am unable to access the methadone treatment that would help alleviate my addiction because the county has cut me off.
And they cut off your welfare check
Carmelita's welfare benefits have been cut off as well, leaving us both in a difficult situation.
Well, I pawned my Smith Corona
I have been forced to sell off my typewriter to get money for drugs.
And I went to meet my man
I am going to meet my drug dealer to get another fix.
He hangs out down on Alvarado Street
My drug dealer is usually located on Alvarado Street, a less reputable area of the city.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Warren Zevon
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@richardnano2228
Give us a break with the bothisms. There’s only one political party that’s totally corrupt, and that’s the republicans!
From POLITIFACT
Recent administrations with the MOST criminal
indictments:
Trump (Republican)
- 215
Nixon (Republican)
-76
Reagan (Republican)
=26
"Recent administrations with the LEAST criminal
indictments:
Obama (Democrat)
-0
Carter (Democrat)
-1
Clinton (Democrat)
- 2
@steveeisenberg6189
This is one of those rare cases where the remake is much better than the original.
@louloki1
2023 still listening…amazing each time
@julieloofbourow3042
Only Imus could challenge all these artists to step out of their comfort zones and make the most amazing music!
@angelotransazione2007
I remember when Imus used to play this version all the time BTW love the pics #Blexit
@dennisseverance6643
Fucking beautiful song. I've been a Warren Zevon fan my whole life, I love Adam Duritz :)
@JurassicPark42
Awesome cover of Zevon's classic. Thanks for the upload.
@Jack-sg2jt
Amen brother
@jmo18799
Nice upload buddy..Haven't seen ya in awhile..Hope all is good for you and your family bro!!Happy thanksgiving.
@grantwiscour
Great video! Original!
@grendelwasajedi
"BlacksAgainstObama" ?
God bless you, brother.
spread the word.