El Paso --- Marty Robbins

 

 

[D]Out in the West Texas [Em]town of El Paso

[A7]I fell in love with a Mexican [D]Girl.

[D]Night time would find me in [Em]Rose’s Cantina,

[A7]Music would play and Felina would [D]whirl.

 

[D]Blacker than night were the [Em]eyes of Felina,

[A7]Wicked and evil while casting her [D]spell.

[D]My love was strong for this [Em]Mexican maiden,

[A7]I was in love, but in vain I could [D]tell.

 

          [G]One night a wild young [D]cowboy came [G]in,

          Wild as the [D]West Texas [D7]wind.

          Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing

          With wicked Felina, the girl that I [G]loved.

          So in [A7]anger…

 

I [D]challenged his right for the [Em]love of this maiden.

[A7]Down went his hand for the gun that he [D]wore.

My [D]challenge was answered, in [Em]less than a heartbeat

The [A7]handsome young stranger lay dead on the [D]floor.

 

[D]Just for a moment I [Em]stood there in silence,

[A7]Shocked by the foul evil deed I had [D]done.

[D]Many thoughts raced through my [Em]mind as I stood there,

[A7]I had but one chance and that was to [D]run.

 

          [G]Out through the back door of [D]Rose’s I [G]ran,

          Out where the [D]horses were [D7]tied.

          I caught a good one, it looked like he could run.

          Up on his back and away I did [G]ride.

          Just as [A7]fast as…

 

I [D]could from the West Texas [Em]town of El Paso.

[A7]Out through the badlands of New Mexi-[D]co…

[D]Back in El Paso my [Em]life would be worthless.

[A7]Everything’s gone in life, nothing is [D]left.

 

But [D]it’s been so long since I’ve [Em]seen the young maiden,

[A7]My love is stronger than my fear of [D]death.

 

          [G]I saddled up and a-[D]way I did [G]go,

          Riding a-[D]lone in the [D7]dark.

          Maybe tomorrow a bullet may find me.

          Tonight nothing’s worse than this pain in my [G]heart.

          And at [A7]last here…

 

I [D]am on the hill over-[Em]looking El Paso.

[A7]I can see Rose’s Cantina be-[D]low.

[D]My love is strong and it [Em]pushes me onward.

[A7]Down off the hill to Felina I [D]go.

 

[D]Off to my right I see [Em]five mounted cowboys.

[A7]Off to my left ride a dozen or [D]more.

[D]Shouting and shooting, I [Em]can’t let them catch me.

[A7]I’ve got to make it to Rose’s back [D]door.

 

          [G]Something is dreadfully [D]wrong for I [G]feel

          A deep burning [D]pain in my [D7]side.

          It’s getting harder to stay in the saddle.

          I’m getting weary, unable to [G]ride.

          But my [A7]love for…

 

Fe-[D]lina is strong and I [Em]rise where I’ve fallen.

[A7]Though I am weary, I can’t stop to [D]rest.

[D]I see the white puff of [Em]smoke from the rifle.

[A7]I feel the bullet go deep in my [D]chest.

 

[D]From out of nowhere, Fe-[Em]lina has found me,

[A7]Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my [D]side.

[D]Cradled by two loving [Em]arms that I’ll die for,

[A7]One little kiss, and Felina good-[D]bye.

 

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