South of the Border
Shep Fields & His Orchestra Lyrics
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Down Mexico way
That's where I fell in love when stars above came out to play
And now as I wander
My thoughts ever stray
South of the border
Down Mexico way
In old Spanish lace
Just for a tender while I kissed the smile upon her face
For it was fiesta
And we were so gay
South of the border
Down Mexico way
Then she sighed and she whispered "Mañana"
Never dreaming that we were parting
And I lied as I whispered "Mañana"
For our tomorrow never came
South of the border
I rode back one day
There in a veil of white by candlelight she knelt to pray
The mission bells told me
That I mustn't stay
South of the border
Down Mexico way
Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
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"South of the border, down Mexico way" is a song about a man who falls in love with a woman on holiday in Mexico, but has to leave her behind when the fiesta ends. The song is sung from the perspective of the man and is sung in a gentle and romantic tone. The lyrics describe how he falls in love with a woman who he describes as being a "picture in old Spanish lace", highlighting her beauty and grace. He talks about how they had a great time at the fiesta and how he lied when he whispered "mañana" to her, promising to see her again the following day, knowing that he wouldn't.
As he wanders afterwards, his thoughts often drift down to Mexico and the woman he fell in love with. The final verse of the song sees the man return to Mexico, where he sees the woman once again. This time, however, she is getting married, and he realizes that he cannot stay in Mexico any longer. As he hears the mission bells toll, he leaves the woman and the country behind, knowing that he can never return.
Overall, the song romanticizes the holiday hookup trope, but also highlights the bittersweet feelings that can come with such a romance. The idea of falling in love in a foreign country but having to leave it all behind adds a level of melancholy to the song and gives it a timeless quality that is relatable to many people.
Line by Line Meaning
South of the border
Referring to an area located in Mexico
Down Mexico way
Towards the southern region of Mexico
That's where I fell in love when stars above came out to play
Describing a romantic experience in Mexico under the starlit sky
And now as I wander
Reflecting on past memories while currently traveling
My thoughts ever stray
Continuously wandering back to the place where the love was found
She was a picture
Describing a woman's beauty
In old Spanish lace
Wearing traditional clothing with historical significance in Mexico
Just for a tender while I kissed the smile upon her face
Sharing an intimate moment with the woman he fell in love with
For it was fiesta
During a celebration or festival
And we were so gay
Enjoying the lively atmosphere and each other's company
Then she sighed and she whispered "Mañana"
Saying "tomorrow" in Spanish, not realizing they would never see each other again
Never dreaming that we were parting
Unaware that their time together was coming to an end
And I lied as I whispered "Mañana"
Agreeing to meet again in the future even though he knew it wouldn't happen
For our tomorrow never came
They never saw each other again
I rode back one day
Returning to the same location in Mexico
There in a veil of white by candlelight she knelt to pray
Describing a woman's religious ceremony, perhaps a wedding or funeral
The mission bells told me
The church bells indicated or reminded him of something important
That I mustn't stay
Feeling like he shouldn't remain in the same location and should move somewhere else
Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
Exclamation used in Mexican music, showing excitement or emotion
Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
Repeating the same exclamation above
Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
Repeating the same exclamation above
Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!
Repeating the same exclamation above
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CRAIG HONEYCUTT, MARK REINHARDT, RICHARD K BRADLEY, STEVE VAN DAM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@edwardanthony7283
Thank god for modern 60's & beyond technology. Man those back then were tortured!
@user-zu7mm8ni8x
Whose listening in 2016
@justinalmorado7276
Go fuck yourself
@NoirFan01
I am listening in 2022. Today a 101-year-old gentleman told me about seeing the Shep Fields band perform near New York City in the 1930s.
@tohono79
Thanks for the info. Grettings from south of the border.
@vinylsingleman
Thanks for posting. This was probably his biggest hit. I don't detect his trademark "rippling rhythm" in this one, though.
@artmaniac53
Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra.- South Of The Border(down Mexico way) The song was No1 in 1940 for 5 weeks begining from 13 of January. Released Label: Bluebird 10376. Category: Pseudo-Hillilly (Origin of Country Music) Other versions with: Guy LobardoAnd His Royal Canadians Gene Autry Tony Martin Bert Ambrose And His Orchestra T
@edwardanthony7283
The original version.
@georgecripe4898
Nice version of this song. Gene Autry probably had the greater hit.