Carmelita
Jimenez Flaco 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 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
On the outskirts of town

Well, I'm sittin' here playing solitaire
With my pearl-handled deck
The county won't give me no more methadone
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
On the outskirts of town

Overall Meaning

The song "Carmelita" by Jimenez Flaco is a sobering tale of addiction, desperation, and loss set against the backdrop of two different places, Ensenada and Echo Park. The opening lines set the scene, with the Mariachi static on the radio and the glowing tubes creating a vivid image. The first verse juxtaposes the two locations, suggesting that the singer wishes he was back in Ensenada with Carmelita. However, the repeated chorus of "Carmelita, hold me tighter, I think I'm sinking down; and I'm all strung out on heroin on the outskirts of town" suggests that he is trapped in his present circumstances and unable to escape.


The second verse reveals the extent of the singer's addiction and the fact that he is no longer receiving methadone or welfare support. The use of the word "strung out" reinforces the sense of desperation and helplessness. The final verse describes the singer pawning his typewriter and seeking out his dealer on Alvarado Street, which serves as another reminder of his current situation. The repeated chorus serves as a haunting refrain, emphasizing the grip that addiction has on him and his inability to escape.


Overall, "Carmelita" is a powerful and emotional song with vivid imagery and a haunting refrain. It is a song that explores the impact of addiction on individuals and their relationships, and the way that addiction can lead to isolation and despair.


Line by Line Meaning

I hear Mariachi static on my radio
I can hear Mariachi music on my radio, but there's static interference.


And the tubes they glow in the dark
The tubes of my radio are glowing even though it's dark.


And I'm there with her in Ensenada
I'm transported back to when I was with Carmelita in Ensenada.


And I'm here in Echo Park
But I'm physically in Echo Park right now.


Carmelita hold me tighter
I need Carmelita to hold me tightly because I feel like I'm sinking.


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 taking over my life.


On the outskirts of town
I'm living on the fringes of society.


Well, I'm sittin' here playing solitaire
I'm passing the time playing solitaire by myself.


With my pearl-handled deck
I'm using a deck of cards with a fancy pearl handle.


The county won't give me no more methadone
The local government won't provide me with any more methadone, a medication used to treat my heroin addiction.


They cut off your welfare check
They've stopped providing me with welfare funds, which I rely on to support myself.


Well, I pawned my Smith-Corona
I had to sell my Smith-Corona typewriter for money.


And I went to meet my man
I went to meet my drug dealer to get more heroin.


He hangs out down on Alvarado Street
My drug dealer can usually be found on Alvarado Street.


By the Pioneer chicken stand
He usually hangs out near the Pioneer chicken stand.




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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