Amarillo
Tony Christie Lyrics


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Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la

When the day is dawnin'
On a Texas Sunday mornin'
How I long to be there
With Marie who's waitin' for me there
Ev'ry lonely city where I hang my hat
Ain't as half as pretty as where my baby's at

Is this the way to Amarillo?
Ev'ry night I've been huggin' my pillow
Dreamin' dreams of Amarillo
And sweet Marie who waits for me
Show me the way to Amarillo
I've been weepin' like a willow
Cryin' over Amarillo
And sweet Marie who waits for me

Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
And Marie who waits for me

There's a church bell ringin'
Hear the sound of joy that it's singin'
For the sweet Maria
And the guy who's comin' to see her
Just beyond the highway
there's an open plain
And it keeps me goin'
Through the wind and rain

Is this the way to Amarillo?
Ev'ry night I've been huggin' my pillow
Dreamin' dreams of Amarillo
And sweet Marie who waits for me
Show me the way to Amarillo
I've been weepin' like a willow
Cryin' over Amarillo
And sweet Marie who waits for me

Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
And Marie who waits for me

Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la
And Marie who waits for me

Sha la la la la la la la
Sha la la la la la la la




Sha la la la la la la la
And Marie who waits for me

Overall Meaning

The song "Amarillo" by Tony Christie is a tale of longing and love, with the singer expressing his desperation to be with his beloved Marie. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a Texan landscape, with the singer dreaming of being reunited with Marie in Amarillo. He describes the beauty of the open plains and the sound of church bells ringing, which symbolize the happiness that he hopes to experience once he is reunited with his love.


The repetition of the "Sha la la" throughout the song serves to emphasize the singer's emotional state- he is in a state of longing, and the sha la las are a way to express that longing. The verse about the singer crying like a willow over Amarillo emphasizes his sadness at being unable to be with Marie. The final verse includes a call to action- the singer is asking for someone to show him the way to Amarillo so he can be with his love once again.


Overall, the song "Amarillo" is a classic example of a love ballad, with the singer expressing his love and longing for his partner in a touching and lyrical way.


Line by Line Meaning

Sha la la la la la la la
Repetitive sounds meant to create a joyful and catchy melody


When the day is dawnin' on a Texas Sunday mornin'
Wishing to be in Texas with Marie on a beautiful Sunday morning


How I long to be there with Marie who's waitin' for me there
Wanting to be with Marie, who is patiently waiting for the singer's arrival


Ev'ry lonely city where I hang my hat
Every city where the singer currently resides feels lonely without Marie


Ain't as half as pretty as where my baby's at
No other city is as beautiful as the place where Marie is


Is this the way to Amarillo?
Asking for directions to Amarillo, Texas


Ev'ry night I've been huggin' my pillow
Feeling lonely and missing Marie every night, resorting to hugging a pillow for comfort


Dreamin' dreams of Amarillo
Constantly dreaming about being with Marie in Amarillo


And sweet Marie who waits for me
Marie is the reason for the singer's yearning to be in Amarillo


Show me the way to Amarillo
Pleading for someone to guide the singer to Amarillo


I've been weepin' like a willow
Crying like a weeping willow due to the singer's sadness and longing for Marie


Cryin' over Amarillo
Crying over the separation from Marie in Amarillo


There's a church bell ringin'
Hearing a church bell ringing, indicating happiness and joy in the air


Hear the sound of joy that it's singin'
The sound of the church bell is singing a joyful tune


For the sweet Maria
The joy is for Marie, who is loved by the singer


And the guy who's comin' to see her
The singer is the guy who is coming to see Marie


Just beyond the highway, there's an open plain
Beyond the highway is an open field, reminding the singer of the vastness of the country


And it keeps me goin' through the wind and rain
The thought of seeing Marie in Amarillo gives the singer motivation to keep going, even through hard times


And Marie who waits for me
Marie is the motivation for the singer to continue on to Amarillo




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Howard Greenfield, Neil Sedaka

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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