The group was initiated by Jon Langford (also of the Waco Brothers and The Mekons) as a covers group, with a constantly shifting repertory and cast of backing members. The name was first used for Langford's 1995 album of Johnny Cash cover songs. In 1998, Langford enlisted the help of a number of prominent alt-country musicians (including Neko Case, Alejandro Escovedo, and Robbie Fulks) for a full-length tribute album to Bob Wills. Their second LP, The Executioner's Last Songs, was released in 2002 and is a collection of songs about death. Following this record's success, the group recorded two more albums of songs about death as benefits for the Illinois Coalition Against the Death Penalty. These albums featured such guests as Steve Earle and Mark Eitzel. The group rarely performs live, though it occasionally does special performances in the Chicago area. In 2007 the group appeared as backing band on Chumbawamba member Danbert Nobacon's solo album The Library Book of the World, as well as playing live with Nobacon.
San Antonio Rose
The Pine Valley Cosmonauts Lyrics
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A song of old San Antone
Where in dreams I live with a memory
Beneath the stars all alone
It was there I found beside the Alamo
Enchantment strange as the blue up above
A moonlit pass that only she would know
Still hears my broken song of love
Call back my rose, rose of San Antone
Lips so sweet and tender like petals falling apart
Speak once again of my love, my own
Broken song, empty words I know
Still live in my heart all alone
For that moonlit pass by the Alamo
And Rose, my Rose of San Antone
Deep within my heart lies a melody,
A song of old San Antone
Where in dreams I live with a memory
Beneath the stars all alone
It was there I found beside the Alamo
Enchantment strange as the blue up above
A moonlit pass that only she would know
Still hears my broken song of love
Moon in all your splendor know only my heart
Call back my rose, rose of San Antone
Lips so sweet and tender like petals falling apart
Speak once again of my love, my own
Broken song, empty words I know
Still live in my heart all alone
For that moonlit pass by the Alamo
And Rose, my Rose of San Antone
The Pine Valley Cosmonauts's song "San Antonio Rose" is a nostalgic ballad that depicts a man's fond memories of a past love in San Antonio. The song opens with the singer revealing that deep within his heart lies a melody that evokes memories of the old San Antone, where in his dreams he lives with a memory beneath the stars all alone. He then recollects a past encounter with his former love, Rose, who he found beside the Alamo where he experienced an enchantment that was strange as the blue up above. The moonlit pass where they met still hears his broken song of love, and he longs for the moon to call back his rose, with her sweet and tender lips that are like petals falling apart.
The lyrics are reflective of the beauty and complexity of love and how memories of past loves can linger on despite the passage of time. The singer's deep love for Rose is evident in the way he speaks of her through the song, and his hope that she will once again speak of his love. The mention of the Alamo and the moonlit pass add to the romantic imagery and create a sense of timelessness that reinforces the idea of love being eternal.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep within my heart lies a melody
I have a beautiful tune embedded in my heart
A song of old San Antone
It's a song from my memories of San Antone
Where in dreams I live with a memory
I revisit this memory every night in my dream
Beneath the stars all alone
I always dream about this alone under the moonlight
It was there I found beside the Alamo
It was at the Alamo that I had this experience
Enchantment strange as the blue up above
It was a bewitching moment, much like the sky on a clear day
A moonlit pass that only she would know
There was a lane lit by the moon that only she could be aware of
Still hears my broken song of love
The moonlit lane echoes my broken heart love song
Moon in all your splendor know only my heart
I entreat the moon to keep its eye on my thoughts and emotions
Call back my rose, rose of San Antone
I want the moon to bring back my beloved from San Antone
Lips so sweet and tender like petals falling apart
My love's lips are too gentle and fragrant, like disintegrating petals
Speak once again of my love, my own
I want to hear her talk about our love again
Broken song, empty words I know
I recognize that my love song is broken and lacks meaning
Still live in my heart all alone
Yet, it still resides in my heart
For that moonlit pass by the Alamo
Because of the moonlit alleyway, beside the Alamo
And Rose, my Rose of San Antone
And my beloved Rose from San Antone
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Wills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind