El Paso
Tom Russell Lyrics

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
The story takes place in El Paso, a town in West Texas.

I fell in love with a Mexican girl
The singer fell in love with a woman from Mexico.

Nighttime would find me in Rosa's Cantina
The singer spent time at Rosa's Cantina, particularly in the evening.

Music would play and Felina would whirl
There was music playing in Rosa's Cantina, and the woman the artist loved would dance.

Blacker than night where the eyes of Felina
Felina's eyes were very dark and intense.

Wicked and evil while casting a spell
Felina had a dangerous quality about her that was alluring to the singer.

My love was strong for this Mexican maiden
The singer had strong feelings of love for Felina.

I was in love but in vain I could tell
The artist knew that his love for Felina was not going to be accepted or reciprocated.

One night a wild young cowboy came in
A young cowboy entered Rosa's Cantina one evening.

Wild as the West Texas wind
The cowboy was very unpredictable like the strong winds of West Texas.

Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing
The cowboy was bold and sociable, sharing his drink with others.

With wicked Felina, the girl that I loved
The cowboy shared his drink with Felina, whom the artist loved.

So in anger I challenged his right for the love of this maiden
The singer was upset and confronted the cowboy for sharing a drink with Felina.

Down went his hand for the gun that he wore
The cowboy reached for his gun during the confrontation.

My challenge was answered, in less than a heartbeat
The cowboy accepted the singer's challenge almost immediately.

The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor
The cowboy was shot and killed during the confrontation.

Just for a moment I stood there in silence
The artist was stunned after shooting the cowboy and didn't immediately flee the scene.

Shocked by the foul evil deed I had done
The singer was surprised and horrified by his own violent actions.

Many thoughts ran through my mind as I stood there
The singer had a lot of thoughts and emotions flooding his mind after the shooting.

I had but one chance and that was to run
The artist realized his only option was to escape before being caught by the authorities or the cowboy's friends.

Out through the back door of Rose's I ran
The artist ran out of the back of Rosa's Cantina.

Out where the horses were tied
The artist went to where the horses were tied up.

I caught a good one, it looked like it could run
The singer found a horse that looked like it would be able to take him away quickly.

Up on his back and away I did ride
The artist mounted the horse and fled on its back.

Just as fast as I could from the West Texas town of El Paso
The singer rode the horse as quickly as he could away from El Paso.

Out thru the badlands of New Mexico
The singer rode through the less-populated, rugged terrain of New Mexico.

Back in El Paso, my life would be worthless
The singer believed that if he were to be caught, his life wouldn't be worth living.

Everything's gone in life nothing is left
The artist felt like he had nothing left to lose after the shooting.

It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden
The artist had been away from Felina for an extended period of time.

My love is stronger than my fear of death
The singer's love for Felina was stronger than his fear of being captured or killed.

I saddled up and away I did go
The singer prepared to leave again on horseback.

Riding alone in the dark
The artist rode on his horse without anyone else nearby in the darkness.

Maybe tomorrow a bullet may find me
The artist knew he could be shot and killed at any time as he fled.

Tonight nothing's worse than this pain in my heart
The artist was in emotional pain due to the situation with Felina and the shooting.

And at last here I am on the hill overlooking El Paso
The singer eventually reached a hill that overlooked El Paso.

I can see Rose's Cantina below
The artist could see Rosa's Cantina from his vantage point.

My love is strong and it pushes me onward
The singer's love for Felina motivated him to continue on, despite the risks and challenges.

Down off the hill to Felina I go
The singer descended the hill in the direction of Felina.

Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys
The singer saw five cowboys on horseback to his right.

Off to my left ride a dozen or more
To the left of the artist, he saw a group of about twelve cowboys riding.

Shouting and shooting, I can't let them catch me
The cowboys were shouting and firing guns, and the artist had to avoid being captured or killed.

I've got to make it to Rose's back door
The singer was trying to reach the door at Rosa's Cantina for safety or refuge.

Something is dreadfully wrong for, I feel
The singer noticed something was wrong, possibly with his health or physical condition.

A deep burning pain in my side
The artist experienced a sharp, burning pain in his side.

Although I am trying to stay in the saddle
Despite the pain and discomfort, the artist was making an effort to stay on his horse.

I'm getting weary, unable to ride
The artist was feeling exhausted and unable to continue riding.

It's getting harder to stay in the saddle
As time went on, the singer found it increasingly difficult to remain on the horse.

But my love for Felina is strong and I rise where I've fallen
The artist's love for Felina gave him the strength to continue, even when he was struggling.

Though I am weary, I can't stop to rest
Despite his exhaustion, the singer couldn't take a break or he risked being caught or killed.

I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle
The singer saw the smoke that signaled a gunshot fired by one of the cowboys pursuing him.

I feel the bullet go deep in my chest
The singer was shot and felt the bullet penetrate his chest.

From out of nowhere, Felina has found me
Unexpectedly, Felina appeared and came across the wounded narrator.

Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side
Felina leaned in to kiss the artist's cheek as she kneeled beside him.

Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for
Felina held the singer in her arms as he drew his last breath and died.

One little kiss and Felina goodbye
Felina gave the singer a kiss goodbye before he passed away.