South of the border
Al Bowlly and his Orchestra Lyrics


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South of the border
Down Mexico way
That's where I fell in love when stars above came out to play
And now as I wander
My thoughts ever stray
South of the border
Down Mexico way
She was a picture
In old Spanish lace
Just for a tender while I kissed the smile upon her face
For it was fiesta
And we were so gay
South of the border
Down Mexico way

Then she sighed and she whispered "Mañana"
Never dreaming that we were parting
And I lied as I whispered "Mañana"
For our tomorrow never came

South of the border
I rode back one day
There in a veil of white by candlelight she knelt to pray
The mission bells told me
That I mustn't stay
South of the border
Down Mexico way

Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!





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Overall Meaning

The song "South of the Border" by Al Bowlly and his Orchestra tells the story of a person who fell in love with a woman in Mexico. The opening lines of the song state "South of the border, Down Mexico way," creating a vivid image of the place where the singer's love bloomed. The singer mentions the stars above coming out to play, indicating that their love was born under a starry night. As the singer wanders and thinks of their love, they seem to reminisce about the past.


The second verse describes the woman the singer fell in love with, wearing old Spanish lace. They shared a tender moment, kissing the smile on her face. The singer says they were both gay during the fiesta, indicating the festive environment. However, the relationship wasn't meant to last as the woman whispered "Mañana" (tomorrow in Spanish), not knowing they were parting.


The final verse reveals that the singer had to leave the woman and the country. They rode back one day and found the woman praying in a veil of white by candlelight, and the mission bells told the singer they had to leave. The song ends with a repeated "Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!" which is a common Mexican phrase used during song and dance.


Overall, the song offers a romantic and nostalgic narrative of a love that was not meant to thrive. It captures the essence of Mexico as a passionate and free-spirited country.


Line by Line Meaning

South of the border
Referring to a location in Mexico where the singer fell in love.


Down Mexico way
Further specifying the location where the singer fell in love.


That's where I fell in love when stars above came out to play
Recalling the moment of falling in love under a starry night sky in Mexico.


And now as I wander
Presenting the artist as a wanderer with wandering thoughts.


My thoughts ever stray
Reinforcing the idea that the artist's thoughts tend to wander.


She was a picture
Introducing the woman who the singer fell in love with as a beautiful image.


In old Spanish lace
Describing the woman's attire as traditional Spanish lace.


Just for a tender while I kissed the smile upon her face
Recalling a romantic moment between the artist and the woman where he kissed her smiling face.


For it was fiesta
Explaining the festive atmosphere in Mexico at the time of the romantic encounter.


And we were so gay
Further emphasizing the joyful and celebratory nature of the encounter.


Then she sighed and she whispered "Mañana"
Recalling a moment where the woman whispered the Spanish word for "tomorrow" to the singer.


Never dreaming that we were parting
Implying that neither the woman nor the artist realized that they would soon be separated.


And I lied as I whispered "Mañana"
Revealing that the singer also whispered the word "tomorrow" to the woman, despite knowing they were unlikely to meet again.


For our tomorrow never came
Reflecting on the fact that the couple never had a chance to reunite after that moment.


I rode back one day
Describing the singer's return to Mexico at a later time.


There in a veil of white by candlelight she knelt to pray
Painting a picturesque scene of the woman in a white veil kneeling to pray by candlelight.


The mission bells told me
Noticing the sound of the church bells in the background.


That I mustn't stay
Realizing that he must leave and cannot stay near the woman he once loved.


Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
Exclaiming in sadness and heartache.


Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
Repeating the exclamation for emphasis.


Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
Continuing to express the artist's sorrow and longing.


Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
Concluding the song with a final exclamation of sadness and nostalgia.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CRAIG HONEYCUTT, MARK REINHARDT, RICHARD K BRADLEY, STEVE VAN DAM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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