South of the border
The Doobie Brothers Lyrics


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There's a town south of the border
South of El Paso they say
Where the nights are long and the winds are warm
And the women they love to play
In an old adobe tavern
Mescal flows like water
And Rita will dance on your table so fine
You are bound to place your order
I don't have to think about it
I don't have to wonder
Where I'm going to ride tonight
I'll be riding down the highway south of the border

As I ride into town and the dust settles down
And the mariachi music is playing
I buy me a room from a guy named Luis
It's just up the stairs and it's waiting
Downstairs Rita is dancing
Just the way her mother has taught her
So I settle down for the show and a beer
And wait for that mother's daughter

I don't have to think about it
I don't have to wonder
Where I'm going to ride tonight
I'll be riding

When the morning comes and I wake up
To the sounds of the people below
There's a note on my bed that is easily read
Buenos dias and a kiss when you go
As I ride out of town with my face to the sun
And the dust is trailing behind
Soon I'll go back to this sleepy old town
Back where I know I can find

I don't have to think about it
I don't have to wonder




Where I'm going to ride tonight
I'll be riding down the highway south of the border

Overall Meaning

The Doobie Brothers’ song South of the Border depicts a town located south of El Paso. It describes the atmosphere and entertainment available in this place where the nights are long, winds are warm, and women love to play. As the song begins, the town is characterized as a place where one can find an old adobe tavern where mescal flows like water. One of the tavern’s waitresses, named Rita, is described as a talented dancer who can captivate anyone with the smooth movements of her body. As the lyrics progress, the singer arrives at Rita’s tavern, buys a room from the owner Luis, takes in the mariachi music, and enjoys a show accompanied by a cold beer. Eventually, he wakes up to “Buenos dias” and a kiss when he needs to go, and trails the dust while driving away from the town with the sun shining on his face.


The song narrates the story of a person who seeks an escape from the mundane and who finds a paradise south of the border where the scenery, music, and company make him forget his worries. He is merely interested in the adventure of the moment and does not need to think about where he is going tonight as the experience of the journey is the destination itself. Overall, the song South of the Border is an ode to the freedom of letting loose and enjoying life without worrying about the next day.


Line by Line Meaning

There's a town south of the border
There is a town located to the south of the border.


South of El Paso they say
The town is rumored to be located south of El Paso.


Where the nights are long and the winds are warm
The town experiences long nights and a warm climate.


And the women they love to play
The women of the town enjoy playing around.


In an old adobe tavern
There is an aged adobe tavern present in the town.


Mescal flows like water
The tavern offers Mescal liquor in abundance.


And Rita will dance on your table so fine
A woman named Rita can dance very well, even on a table.


You are bound to place your order
Rita's dancing will compel you to place an order.


I don't have to think about it
The artist does not have to put much thought into his decision-making.


I don't have to wonder
The artist does not have to ponder over his next move.


Where I'm going to ride tonight
The singer is certain that he will be riding somewhere tonight.


I'll be riding down the highway south of the border
The artist will be traveling down a highway located south of the border.


As I ride into town and the dust settles down
Upon arriving in the town, the singer experiences a settling of dust.


And the mariachi music is playing
Mariachi music is being played in the town.


I buy me a room from a guy named Luis
The singer purchases a room from a man named Luis.


It's just up the stairs and it's waiting
The room is waiting for the artist and is located up some stairs.


Downstairs Rita is dancing
Rita is dancing in the tavern below the artist's room.


Just the way her mother has taught her
Rita dances in the same way her mother taught her.


So I settle down for the show and a beer
The singer relaxes to enjoy the dancing and drinks a beer.


And wait for that mother's daughter
The artist waits for Rita, who is the daughter of the woman who taught her to dance.


When the morning comes and I wake up
The artist wakes up in the morning after spending the night in town.


To the sounds of the people below
The sounds of people from the town can be heard below the artist's room.


There's a note on my bed that is easily read
There is a note left on the singer's bed that is easy to read.


Buenos dias and a kiss when you go
The note says, 'Good morning, and a kiss before you leave.'


As I ride out of town with my face to the sun
The singer rides out of the town with his face towards the sun.


And the dust is trailing behind
Dust is left behind as the singer leaves town.


Soon I'll go back to this sleepy old town
The singer plans to return to this quiet, old town soon.


Back where I know I can find
A familiar place where the artist knows he can find something.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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Weird Al Yankovich


on Daughters of the Sea (demo)

That isn't the demo version. It's the crappy studio version.

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