A Gal In Calico
Mercer Johnny Lyrics

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Met a gal in calico, down in Santa Fe;
Used to be her Sunday beau ?til I rode away.
Do I want her, do I want her love?
Yes siree!

Will I win her, Will I win her love?
Wait and see!
Workin' with a rodeo, go from town to town.

See most every kind a gal, every kind a gown.

But who made my heart sing
Yippee Yi! Yippee Yo!
My little gal in calico.
Take my gal in calico, down in Santa Fe;

Guess I'd better let her know that I feel this way.
Is she waitin' is she waitin'
She better be.
Am I hopin' to be ropin' her?

Yes siree!
Gonna quit the rodeo, gonna settle down,
Buy a bolt of calico for a weddin?gown.
Then will I fence her in

Yippee Yi! Yippee Yo!
My little gal in calico.

Overall Meaning

Johnny Mercer's song "A Gal In Calico" talks about a man who falls in love with a girl he meets in Santa Fe. The man used to be her Sunday beau before he went out of town. However, even after he returns, he can't shake off the feeling of affection for her. The man is a rodeo worker, and he travels from town to town, where he sees different kinds of women in beautiful dresses. Nevertheless, his heart sings for the girl in calico, and he wants to win her over. He wants to know if she feels the same way and if she is waiting for him. He is hoping to win her love and settle down with her. The song ends with the man's desire to quit his job, settle down, and fence her in with love.

Line by Line Meaning

Met a gal in calico, down in Santa Fe;
I once encountered a woman wearing calico in Santa Fe;

Used to be her Sunday beau ?til I rode away.
I used to be her beau on Sundays until I left her.

Do I want her, do I want her love? Yes siree!
Do I desire her and her love? You bet I do!

Will I win her, Will I win her love? Wait and see!
Will I succeed in winning her love? Only time will tell!

Workin' with a rodeo, go from town to town.
I work with a rodeo and travel from one town to another.

See most every kind a gal, every kind a gown.
I come across various types of women and dresses.

But who made my heart sing Yippee Yi! Yippee Yo! My little gal in calico.
Out of all the women I've met, the one in calico is the only one that can make my heart sing.

Take my gal in calico, down in Santa Fe;
I want to take the woman in calico from Santa Fe;

Guess I'd better let her know that I feel this way.
I should inform her of my true feelings.

Is she waitin' is she waitin' She better be.
Is she waiting for me? She better be!

Am I hopin' to be ropin' her? Yes siree!
Do I aspire to have her? Absolutely!

Gonna quit the rodeo, gonna settle down, Buy a bolt of calico for a weddin?gown.
I plan to leave the rodeo and settle down. I'll even buy a bolt of calico for her wedding gown.

Then will I fence her in Yippee Yi! Yippee Yo! My little gal in calico.
Once we're married, I will keep her all to myself, my little gal in calico!

Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ARTHUR SCHWARTZ, LEO ROBIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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