Carmelita
The Willy Deville Acoustic Trio Lyrics

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Well, I hear mariachi static on my radio
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

Well I'm sittin' here playing solitaire
With my pearl handled deck
The 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

Well I pawned my smith corona
And I went to meet my man
He hangs out down on alvarado street
At 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

Carmelita, hold me tighter
I think I'm sinking down

And I'm all strung out on heroin
On the outskirts of town

Overall Meaning

The Willy DeVille Acoustic Trio's song "Carmelita" is a heartbreaking tale of a man struggling with addiction and poverty. The opening lyrics set the scene with the sound of mariachi music on the radio and the singer mentally transported to Ensenada, Mexico with his love interest, Carmelita. However, in reality, he is in Echo Park struggling with his heroin addiction. He pleads for Carmelita to hold him tighter as he fears he is sinking down due to his addiction.

In the second verse, the man is playing solitaire with his pearl-handled deck, a symbol of his desire for a better life. He also reveals that he has been cut off from methadone treatment and Carmelita's welfare check has been discontinued. He is stuck in his addiction and poverty with no way out.

The third verse takes a darker turn as the singer sells his typewriter to meet his drug dealer at a local eatery. He reveals that the chicken stand is his dealer's haunt, further emphasizing how addiction has a grip on every aspect of his life.

Overall, "Carmelita" is a poignant commentary on the realities of addiction and poverty. It is a reminder that these struggles often go hand in hand and that there are millions of people out there living this reality.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, I hear mariachi static on my radio
I am listening to the distorted music of mariachi on my radio.

And the tubes they glow in the dark
I see the tubes of my radio glowing in the darkness.

And I'm there with her in ensenada
I imagine being with my lover in Ensenada.

And I'm here in echo park
But I am physically in Echo Park.

Carmelita, hold me tighter
Carmelita, please embrace me closely.

I think I'm sinking down
I am overwhelmed with emotions and feeling hopeless.

And I'm all strung out on heroin
I am addicted to heroin and feeling the effects of withdrawal.

On the outskirts of town
I am living on the fringes of society.

Well I'm sittin' here playing solitaire
I am alone and bored, playing a game of solitaire.

With my pearl handled deck
Using a deck of cards with a pearly white handle.

The county won't give me no more methadone
I cannot receive any more methadone treatment from the county.