the ballad of cable hogue
Cale John Lyrics
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I live out yonder where the snakes and scorpions run
Got myself a little goldmine to bank on
But one day my heart sank when I saw madame in town
I knew her love would be the death of mine
L'amour passait, l'amour obsolète
Pourquoi perdre sa vie à chercher l'or d'un coeur?
Je ferme mes comptes et je repars
Love is passé and love is obsolete
Some spend their whole lives searching for a heart of gold
I'm tired of treading water in this desert mystique
I'm cashing in my chips before I ride
Do me a favor while I'm hanging here
Take this gold and go and hide
Ne gigote pas, chéri, sur ta corde pendu
(don't twist too hard darlin' on your hangin' rope)
Don't worry I'll be free in no time
She promised me she would be there when I'd return
She didn't say she'd have a whole army there as well
She whispered, "j'taime baby" as she fired that gun at me
(It's getting late and I'm running out of time)
I should've stayed way out yonder
Better off with the scorpions and snakes
Every act which has no heart will be found out in the end
Guess I'm a little late this time
Cause her love would be the death of mine
In "The Ballad of Cable Hogue," Cale John sings about a gold miner living in the wilderness with snakes and scorpions. He has a little gold mine to bank on, but one day, his heart sank when he saw Madame (possibly a woman he was previously involved with) in town. He knows that her love will be the death of him. The lyrics switch to French, where he says that love is passé and obsolete, and he doesn't want to waste his life searching for a heart of gold. He's tired of treading water in the desert and decides to cash in his chips before he rides. He asks Madame to take his gold and go hide while he's hanging, and not to twist too hard on her hanging rope. He promises her that he'll be free in no time.
However, when he returns, Madame has an army waiting for him. She tells him that she loves him as she shoots him with a gun. He realizes that he should've stayed far away from her, in the wilderness with the snakes and scorpions, and that every act that has no heart will be found out in the end. He's a little late this time, as her love was indeed the death of him.
Line by Line Meaning
With marianne dissard
I am living with Marianne Dissard
I live out yonder where the snakes and scorpions run
I live in a place where there are dangerous animals like snakes and scorpions
Got myself a little goldmine to bank on
I have a small goldmine that is my source of income
But one day my heart sank when I saw madame in town
I felt sad when I saw Madame in town
I knew her love would be the death of mine
I realized that her love would bring an end to my life
L'amour passait, l'amour obsolète
Love is passed and love is outdated
Pourquoi perdre sa vie à chercher l'or d'un coeur?
Why waste your life searching for someone's heart of gold?
Je ne me noierai pas dans ce désert mystique
I won't drown in this mystical desert
Je ferme mes comptes et je repars
I'm closing my accounts and leaving
Do me a favor while I'm hanging here
Help me while I'm hanging here
Take this gold and go and hide
Take this gold and hide it
Ne gigote pas, chéri, sur ta corde pendu
Don't twist too hard, darling, on your hanging rope
Don't worry I'll be free in no time
Don't worry, I'll be free soon
She promised me she would be there when I'd return
She promised to be there when I come back
She didn't say she'd have a whole army there as well
She didn't mention that there would be an army with her
She whispered, "j'taime baby" as she fired that gun at me
She said 'I love you baby' as she shot me with a gun
(It's getting late and I'm running out of time)
It's getting late and I don't have much time left
I should've stayed way out yonder
I should have stayed far away
Better off with the scorpions and snakes
I would have been better off with the dangerous animals
Every act which has no heart will be found out in the end
Every heartless act will be uncovered eventually
Guess I'm a little late this time
I'm too late this time
Cause her love would be the death of mine
Because her love would lead to my death
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: JOSEPH BURNS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind