The Trinity Session is perhaps their best known record, recorded live in a single day on a single microphone in a church in Toronto. This album also included a unique cover version of Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane". Reed reportedly liked the Junkies' version of the song better than his own, and began performing their version in concert.
None of the band's subsequent albums have been hits outside of Canada, although the band has maintained a dedicated following and have continued to have chart hits in their native country. Following their 1998 album Miles from Our Home, Cowboy Junkies were dropped from their major label contract. They have continued to release albums on their own independent label, Latent Records.
Carmelita
Cowboy Junkies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ran into my old friend Jack
He was dressed in his Sunday best
but his face was mad and his eyes was a daze
He said 'I lost Marina
and the last place that I'd seen her
she was making off
I took him to the water
I spent fifty dollars
on something that would take him to the moon
Well he must have gone to heaven
cuz just before I left him
I tried to wake him up
but he would not move
So come on Carmelita,
you drunk too much
and I can see that
soon you're gonna need a breath of air
We'll dance across the wheatfields
There's a place I know just east of here
It wouldn't take too long to drive out there
We'll sleep out on the ground
and in the morning when we wake up
we'll leave town
And I picked my last tobacco leaf
Soaking wet up to my knees
out there before the sun is on the rise
You can have a drink of water
but don't you look at my daughter
or I'll come down there and cut you with this knife
So come on Carmelita
You drunk too much
and I can see that
soon you're gonna need a breath of air
We'll dance across the wheatfields
There's a place I know just east of here
It wouldn't take too long to ( Â ?)
We'll sleep out on the ground
and in the morning when we wake up
we'll leave town
There ain't any flat man
but if you are a black man
they'll put you on a plane
back from where you're from
We'll sleep out on the ground
and in the morning when we wake up
we'll leave town
"Carmelita" by Cowboy Junkies is a song about running away from the harsh realities of life. The singer meets his friend Jack, who has lost his lover Marina to his best friend. Jack is heartbroken and distressed, but the singer tries to cheer him up by taking him on a spiritual journey with a drug that would supposedly take him to the moon. However, the drug proves too strong and Jack becomes unresponsive. The singer then turns his sights to Carmelita, who has also drunk too much and needs a breath of fresh air. He offers to take her away to a place he knows, where they can dance across the wheatfields and sleep out on the ground. He warns her, however, not to look at his daughter, or he’ll cut her with his knife. The final verse shows the darker side of being on the run, the risk of being caught, and the discrimination faced by some people.
The song is poignant because of its themes of loss, heartbreak, and escape. It is a reflection of the human condition and the different ways people deal with grief and pain. The singer tries to help his friend by offering him an escape, but that escape proves worse than the pain he was trying to escape from. The song also highlights the freedom and dangers involved in running away from problems. While it may seem like an easy way out, it puts one in a vulnerable position and requires constant vigilance to avoid getting caught.
Line by Line Meaning
Down along the railroad track
On the railroad track, down by the tracks.
I ran into my old friend Jack
I met an old acquaintance named Jack.
He was dressed in his Sunday best
He wore his best clothes.
but his face was mad and his eyes was a daze
But he looked angry and bewildered.
He said 'I lost Marina
He said he lost his girlfriend named Marina.
and the last place that I'd seen her
The last place he saw her.
she was making off
She was running away.
with my best friend'
With his best friend.
I took him to the water
I took him to a body of water.
I spent fifty dollars
I paid fifty dollars.
on something that would take him to the moon
On drugs that would make him feel like he was on the moon.
Well he must have gone to heaven
He must have experienced a feeling of bliss.
cuz just before I left him
Because just before I left him.
I tried to wake him up
I attempted to rouse him from his slumber.
but he would not move
But he was unresponsive.
So come on Carmelita,
So come on, Carmelita.
you drunk too much
You've had too much to drink.
and I can see that
And I can tell that.
soon you're gonna need a breath of air
You'll soon need to get some fresh air.
We'll dance across the wheatfields
We'll dance in the wheatfields.
There's a place I know just east of here
I know a place to the east of here.
It wouldn't take too long to drive out there
It wouldn't take too long to get there by car.
We'll sleep out on the ground
We'll sleep outdoors on the ground.
and in the morning when we wake up
And when we wake up in the morning.
we'll leave town
We'll depart from this town.
And I picked my last tobacco leaf
I picked my final tobacco leaf.
Soaking wet up to my knees
Drenched up to my knees.
out there before the sun is on the rise
Out there before the sun is up.
You can have a drink of water
You can have some water to drink.
but don't you look at my daughter
But don't you look at my daughter.
or I'll come down there and cut you with this knife
Or I'll come down and injure you with my knife.
There ain't any flat man
There aren't any flat pieces of land.
but if you are a black man
But if you are a black person.
they'll put you on a plane
They'll send you on a plane.
back from where you're from
Back to your place of origin.
Contributed by Isaac S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
dharmasuu
Carmelita
Cowboy Junkies
Down along the railroad track
I ran into my old friend Jack
He was dressed in his Sunday best
but his face was mad and his eyes was a daze
He said 'I lost Marina
and the last place that I'd seen her
she was making off
with my best friend'
I took him to the water
I spent fifty dollars
on something that would take him to the moon
Well he must have gone to heaven
cuz just before I left him
I tried to wake him up
but he would not move
So come on Carmelita,
you drunk too much
and I can see that
soon you're gonna need a breath of air
We'll dance across the wheatfields
There's a place I know just east of here
It wouldn't take too long to drive out there
We'll sleep out on the ground
and in the morning when we wake up
we'll leave town
And I picked my last tobacco leaf
Soaking wet up to my knees
out there before the sun is on the rise
You can have a drink of water
but don't you look at my daughter
or I'll come down there and cut you with this knife
So come on Carmelita
You drunk too much
and I can see that
soon you're gonna need a breath of air
We'll dance across the wheatfields
There's a place I know just east of here
It wouldn't take too long to (?)
We'll sleep out on the ground
and in the morning when we wake up
we'll leave town
There ain't any flat man
but if you are a black man
they'll put you on a plane
back from where you're from
We'll sleep out on the ground
and in the morning when we wake up
we'll leave town
le gooch
One of my favourite songs written by a favourite songwriter, sung by a favourite singer
Juan Francisco Rodriguez
Thank you for sharing. I cannot tell how much I love Margo's hypnotic voice on this song. Makes me cry every single time I hear it.
Jonathan L
Great version. Big fan of Fred and I have his live album where he mentions this song was covered by the Cowboy Junkies. Thanks for posting!
Dale Kidd
These guys did a job with song!🌌
Fionnuala McMahon
Thank-you for posting this. It is my favourite Cowboy Junkies song and one of my favourite songs period. I couldn't find it anywhere so thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!
Tracy lannum
most beautiful voice ive ever heard
Rawson Gordon II
One of my very favorite songs.
George Moore
Merci! hermosa! Gracias! Bravo, 5 stars. No wonder Fred always gives props the Cowboy Junkies when he sings this at a show.
xxzeon
THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS!!!!!!!! I too, could not find this anywhere.....what a treat!!!!
dharmasuu
Carmelita
Cowboy Junkies
Down along the railroad track
I ran into my old friend Jack
He was dressed in his Sunday best
but his face was mad and his eyes was a daze
He said 'I lost Marina
and the last place that I'd seen her
she was making off
with my best friend'
I took him to the water
I spent fifty dollars
on something that would take him to the moon
Well he must have gone to heaven
cuz just before I left him
I tried to wake him up
but he would not move
So come on Carmelita,
you drunk too much
and I can see that
soon you're gonna need a breath of air
We'll dance across the wheatfields
There's a place I know just east of here
It wouldn't take too long to drive out there
We'll sleep out on the ground
and in the morning when we wake up
we'll leave town
And I picked my last tobacco leaf
Soaking wet up to my knees
out there before the sun is on the rise
You can have a drink of water
but don't you look at my daughter
or I'll come down there and cut you with this knife
So come on Carmelita
You drunk too much
and I can see that
soon you're gonna need a breath of air
We'll dance across the wheatfields
There's a place I know just east of here
It wouldn't take too long to (?)
We'll sleep out on the ground
and in the morning when we wake up
we'll leave town
There ain't any flat man
but if you are a black man
they'll put you on a plane
back from where you're from
We'll sleep out on the ground
and in the morning when we wake up
we'll leave town