The band made a number of records, all released on Burning heart records.
The line-up consisted of: Mikael Tossavainen (guitar, vocals), P-O Söderbäck (guitar), Fredrik Lindgren (bass) och Magnus Forsberg (drums)
Carmelita
Puffball Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
With my pearl-handled deck
This county won't give me no 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
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
The lyrics of Puffball's song Carmelita tell the story of a man who is down on his luck and struggling with addiction. He hears mariachi static on his radio and remembers being with Carmelita in Ensenada, but now he is in Echo Park strung out on heroin. He pleads for her to hold him tighter as he feels himself sinking down. The man is playing solitaire with his pearl-handled deck because he has no more methadone from the county and his welfare check has been cut off. He has pawned his typewriter (a Smith-Corona) and gone to meet his drug dealer on Alvarado Street.
The song is a poignant and gritty depiction of the realities of addiction and poverty. The use of mariachi music in the beginning of the song adds a touch of nostalgia and a sense of longing for a simpler time. The contrast between the memories of Ensenada and the reality of Echo Park underscores the disconnection the man feels in his life. The image of him playing solitaire with a pearl-handled deck is a powerful symbol of the life he has lost, as well as the fact that he has nothing left to lose. Overall, the lyrics of Carmelita are a powerful commentary on the destructive nature of addiction and the difficulties faced by those who are struggling to overcome it.
Line by Line Meaning
I hear mariachi static on my radio
I can hear a distorted mariachi tune on my radio set
And the tubes they glow in the dark
The tube lights on my radio set glow in the dark as the music plays
And I'm there with her in Ensenada
As I listen to the music, my mind takes me back to the time when I was with Carmelita in Ensenada
And I'm here in Echo Park
At the same time, my physical presence is in Echo Park
Carmelita, hold me tighter
I call out to Carmelita, asking her to hold me tightly for comfort
I think I'm sinking down
I feel overwhelmed and helpless with my current situation
And I'm all strung out on heroin
I am addicted to heroin, which adds to my despair
On the outskirts of town
I feel isolated and detached from society
Well, I'm sitting here playing solitaire
I am alone and passing the time playing the card game solitaire
With my pearl-handled deck
I have a fancy deck of cards with pearl-like handles
This county won't give me no more methadone
The local authorities have stopped providing me with the medication methadone to help with my addiction
And they cut off your welfare check
At the same time, Carmelita's welfare support has also been discontinued
I pawned my Smith-Corona
I had to sell my typewriter (a Smith-Corona brand) for money
And I went to meet my man
I went to meet my drug dealer for a fix
He hangs out down on Alvarado Street
My dealer frequents a street called Alvarado Street
By the Pioneer Chicken stand
He stands near a fast-food joint known as Pioneer Chicken
Carmelita, hold me tighter
In my state of despair, I call out to Carmelita again, asking for her comfort and support
I think I'm sinking down
I am overwhelmed and feel like I am slipping further into my addiction and despair
And I'm all strung out on heroin
Again, my heroin addiction exacerbates my current state of turmoil
On the outskirts of town
I feel more isolated and disconnected from society than ever before
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: WARREN ZEVON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind