Gringo Honeymoon
Robert Earl Keen Lyrics
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Where the cactus flowers grow
I was wishin' that the world would stop
When you said we'd better go
We took a rowboat 'cross the Rio Grande
Captain Pablo was our guide
For two dollars in a weathered hand
And we were dreamin' like the end was not in sight
And we dreamed all afternoon
We asked the world to wait so we could celebrate
A gringo honeymoon
We stepped out onto the golden sand
The sun was high and burning down
Rented donkeys from an old blind man
Saddled up and rode to town
Tied our donkeys to an ironwood tree
By the street where the children play
We walked in the first place we could see
Servin' cold beer in the shade
We were drinkin' like the end was not in sight
And we drank all afternoon
We asked the world to wait so we could celebrate
A gringo honeymoon
Met a cowboy who said that he
Was running from the DEA
He left a home, a wife, a family
When he made his getaway
We followed him on down a street of dust
To his one room run-down shack
He blew a smoke ring and he smiled at us
I ain't never goin' back
We were flyin' like the end was not in sight
And we soared all afternoon
We asked the world to wait so we could celebrate
A gringo honeymoon
He said there's one last place that you should go
He took us to the town's best bar
He knew a crusty caballero
Who played an old gut string guitar
And he sang like Marty Robbins could
Played like no one I've known
For a while we knew that life was good
It was ours to take back home
We were singin' like the end was not in sight
And we sang all afternoon
We asked the world to wait so we could celebrate
A gringo honeymoon
We were standin' on a mountain top
Where the cactus flowers grow
I was wishin' that the world would stop
When you said we'd better go
The lyrics of Robert Earl Keen's Gringo Honeymoon describe the adventures and celebrations of a couple on their honeymoon in Mexico. The first verse sets the scene on top of a mountain covered in cactus flowers. The singer wishes that the world would stop, but his wife insists on leaving, which leads to their rowboat ride across the Rio Grande with their captain Pablo. The chorus celebrates their sense of adventure and freedom as they "dreamed all afternoon" and asked the world to wait so they could enjoy their gringo honeymoon.
The second verse takes them to a sandy beach where they rent donkeys and ride to town. They end up at a bar where they meet a cowboy running from the DEA, who takes them to his run-down shack. The cowboy blows a smoke ring and smiles, saying he's never going back. The third chorus reinforces their sense of freedom with the phrase "we were flying like the end was not in sight," and they end up at a local bar where they hear a talented musician singing and playing guitar.
Overall, the song celebrates the power of travel and adventure to transform a mundane existence into something magical. The lyrics contain vivid imagery that conjures up a sense of place, from the cactus flowers on the mountain top to the dusty street where the children play. The song captures the feeling of being alive in the moment and seizing every opportunity to experience life to the fullest. Keen's use of the term "gringo" emphasizes the sense of being a foreigner in a strange land, but also suggests a willingness to embrace new experiences and cultures. Ultimately, the song is about the joy of being young, in love, and free to explore the world.
Line by Line Meaning
We were standin' on a mountain top
We found ourselves atop a peak
Where the cactus flowers grow
Where the prickly flora blossoms
I was wishin' that the world would stop
I prayed that time would cease
When you said we'd better go
You urged us to leave this place
We took a rowboat 'cross the Rio Grande
We traveled by boat over the river
Captain Pablo was our guide
A man named Pablo led the way
For two dollars in a weathered hand
We paid two dollars for his service
He rowed us to the other side
He ferried us to the far bank
And we were dreamin' like the end was not in sight
We envisioned a future without limits
And we dreamed all afternoon
We spent hours in this reverie
We asked the world to wait so we could celebrate
We begged for time to pause while we reveled
A gringo honeymoon
Our romantic retreat
We stepped out onto the golden sand
Setting foot on a beach of warm hue
The sun was high and burning down
The skies were bright and sizzling hot
Rented donkeys from an old blind man
Hired mules from an elderly sightless gent
Saddled up and rode to town
Mounted the animals and rode into town
Tied our donkeys to an ironwood tree
Secured the mules to a hard timber
By the street where the children play
Alongside a thoroughfare where kids frolicked
We walked in the first place we could see
Enterted the first locale that caught our eye
Servin' cold beer in the shade
Serving chilled beer in a shaded area
We were drinkin' like the end was not in sight
We were imbibing without a care for tomorrow
And we drank all afternoon
We spent the entire day consuming alcohol
Met a cowboy who said that he
Encountered a horseman who claimed
Was running from the DEA
Evading the Drug Enforcement Administration
He left a home, a wife, a family
Departed from his residence, spouse, and kin
When he made his getaway
During his escape from justice
We followed him on down a street of dust
Tagged along as he journeyed on a dusty road
To his one room run-down shack
To the dilapidated structure he called home
He blew a smoke ring and he smiled at us
He exhaled a ring of smoke and grinned at our presence
I ain't never goin' back
He vowed not to return to his former life
We were flyin' like the end was not in sight
We felt as if we were soaring with no thought of the future
And we soared all afternoon
We continued to soar throughout the day
He took us to the town's best bar
He led us to the finest watering hole in town
He knew a crusty caballero
He was acquainted with a grizzled horseman
Who played an old gut string guitar
Who strummed a traditional, worn guitar
And he sang like Marty Robbins could
He sang with a voice that rivaled that of Marty Robbins
Played like no one I've known
Strummed with a unique sound unfamiliar to us
For a while we knew that life was good
We experienced a period of contentment and joy
It was ours to take back home
We possessed a memory to cherish forever
We were singin' like the end was not in sight
We were belting out lyrics without fear or worry
And we sang all afternoon
We spent hours singing joyfully
We asked the world to wait so we could celebrate
We pleaded for time to delay so we could enjoy ourselves
A gringo honeymoon
Our unforgettable trip and time together
We were standin' on a mountain top
We found ourselves atop a peak again
Where the cactus flowers grow
Where the prickly flora blossoms as before
I was wishin' that the world would stop
I longed for time to halt once again
When you said we'd better go
You reminded us of our departure once again
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Robert Keen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stigmaticraven
We were standin' on a mountain top
Where the cactus flowers grow
I was wishin' that the world would stop
When you said we'd better go
We took a rowboat 'cross the Rio Grande
Captain Pablo was our giude
For two dollars in a weathered hand
He rowed us to the other side
We stepped out onto the golden sand
The sun was high and burning down
Rented donkeys from an old blind man
Saddled up and rode to town
Tied our donkeys to an ironwood tree
By the street where the children play
We walked in the first place we could see
Servin' cold beer in the shade
We were drinkin' like the end was not in sight
And we drank all afternoon
We asked the world to wait so we could celebrate
A gringo honeymoon
There's one last place that you should go
He took us to the town's best bar
He knew a crusty caballero
Who played an old gut string guitar
And he sang like Marty Robbins could
Played like no one I've known
For a while we knew that life was good
It was ours to take back home
We were singin' like the end was not in sight
And we sang all afternoon
We asked the world to wait so we could celebrate
A gringo honeymoon
We were standin' on a mountain top
Where the cactus flowers grow
I was wishin' that the world would stop
When you said we'd better go
@sisleymichael
I was deployed to Bosnia when this album came out. Had my wife get a family member back in the States to mail me a CD. Took almost 2 months to get it. Probably one of my favorite songs, but I like all of Robert Earl Keen's stuff. I'm retired now and went home to Texas. Go see him every chance I get. Good stuff for sure.
@markstanley7292
Thanks for your service!!!!
@treysammons4248
It’s Memorial Day 2021 thanks for your service sir
@timmcgraw8879
Thank you so much Mike for being a true fan of my music🎵🎶,I sincerely hope you never stop listening to my music 🎶❤️. Hope to hear from you soon🤠❤️
@richardwillett6051
I was just a boy scout forced to listen to this amazing album en route to camping trips in all over Texas.
Thanks for your service!
@theccpisaparasite8813
Down to earth, just reminds of a place I've never been. A wonderful tune.
@timmcgraw8879
Thank you so much for being a true fan of my music🎵🎶,I sincerely hope you never stop listening to my music 🎶❤️. Hope to hear from you soon🤠❤️
@theccpisaparasite8813
@Robert Earl Keen I hope you're doing well Robert. Your music has put a smile in my heart. I hope you enjoy writing your music, as as much as I do listening to it. If you do, you are truly blessed.
Are you still performing?
@timmcgraw8879
@The CCP is a parasite Wow its so lovely to get such a reply from you😊 comment you made captured my heart💓. Well thank you once again for your love towards I and my music 🎶 Do you mind if we talk somewhere private? I'm not on here much. Let me know if you're interested
@theccpisaparasite8813
@Robert Earl Keen certainly Robert ... what works.