Carmelita
G.G. Allain & The Criminal Quartet Lyrics


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I hear mariachi static on my radio
And the tubes, they glow in the dark
And I'm there with you 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
On the outskirts of town

Well, I pawned my Smith & Wesson
And I went to meet my man
Who hangs out down on El Dorado Street
At the county 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

Well, I'm sitting here playing Russian Roulette
With my pearl-handled gun
The county won't give me any 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

Carmelita, hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down




And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town

Overall Meaning

In G.G. Allain & The Criminal Quartet's song Carmelita, the lyrics describe a man who is struggling with addiction and poverty. The song opens with the sound of mariachi music on the radio - perhaps a nod to the singer's Hispanic roots. He finds himself in two places at once: Ensenada and Echo Park. This may suggest that he is physically present in Echo Park but mentally transported to his memories of Ensenada, a happier time in the past.


The singer then addresses Carmelita, asking her to hold him tighter because he feels like he is sinking down. He reveals that he is "all strung out on heroin on the outskirts of town." His addiction has driven him to pawn his Smith and Wesson and seek out his dealer at the county chicken stand on El Dorado Street. The desperation in his voice is palpable, as he contemplates playing Russian Roulette with his pearl-handled gun and bemoans the fact that the county won't give him any more Methadone and that Carmelita's welfare check has been cut off.


The song paints a bleak portrait of a man brought low by addiction and poverty, with only Carmelita to cling to. The repeated refrain of "Carmelita, hold me tighter" underscores the singer's abject desperation and need for human connection in the face of overwhelming adversity.


Line by Line Meaning

I hear mariachi static on my radio
I hear static on my radio, but I imagine the sound of mariachi music playing in the background.


And the tubes, they glow in the dark
The tubes in my radio illuminate the room with a faint glow.


And I'm there with her in Ensenada
I remember being in Ensenada with my lover.


And I'm here in Echo Park
Now I'm back in Echo Park, feeling distant from that memory.


Carmelita, hold me tighter
I need comfort and reassurance from my lover, Carmelita.


I think I'm sinking down
I feel like I'm losing control and falling deeper into despair.


And I'm all strung out on heroin
I'm addicted to heroin and it's consuming my life.


On the outskirts of town
I'm living on the edges of society and struggling to survive.


Well I pawned my Smith and Wesson
I sold my gun to get money for drugs.


And I went to meet my man
I went to meet my drug dealer.


He hangs out down on El Dorado Street
My dealer is usually found on El Dorado Street.


At the county chicken stand
He hangs out at a chicken stand in the county.


Well I'm sitting here playing Russian Roulette
I'm taking dangerous risks with my life, like playing Russian Roulette.


With my pearl-handled gun
I'm using a fancy, elegant gun for this dangerous game.


The county won't give me any more Methadone
The county is no longer providing me with medication to help with my addiction.


And they cut off your welfare check
Carmelita's welfare benefits have been cut off, adding to our struggles.




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
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