01/15/1960
Out in the West Texas town of El Paso,
I fell in love with a Mexican girl.
Night time would find me in Rosa's Cantina,
music would play and Felina would whirl...
So runs the song "El Paso," which Marty Robbins, who came to El Paso today, has made the most warbled ballad in the world.
Guess what Marty found in the town of El Paso today?
Not Rosa's Cantina. "I've never been able to find Rosa's place myself," the handsome singer confided, "People are always asking me if it's a real bar in Juarez or El Paso."
Blacker than night were the eyes of Felina,
Wicked and evil while casting a spell.
My love was deep for this Mexican maiden,
I was in love but in vain I could tell...
What Marty actually found in the town of El Paso today was Felina!
The Chamber of Commerce, in appreciation of the fact that Marty has sold 3,500,000 records of the song, presented a real live "Felina" to the composer at a luncheon today at the International Club.
She is Cira Serros, El Paso model who also welcomed King Baudouin of the Belgians to this West Texas town a year ago. Cira, of course, is not wicked at all, but the 21-year-old beauty could charm a cowboy off his best horse.
It was all in fun and not only enlivened the luncheon but added to the immense publicity the song has created. The host was Kurt Spier of Albert Mathias and Co., distributor of Columbia Records, aided by Al Buchanan, sales manager for Columbia, and Mrs. Buchanan.
One night a wild cowboy came in,
wild as the West Texas wind.
Dashing and daring a drink he was
sharing with wicked Felina
the girl that I love. I challenged
his right for the love of this maiden,
down went his hand for the gun that he wore.
My challenge was answered in less than
a heartbeat, the handsome young stranger lay dead on
the floor ...
Marty Robbins is 30 and the author of many other hits, such as "Singing the Blues," "White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation" "Big Iron," and "Running Gun." He gives two performances today-at 7 p. m. and 9 p. m. in Liberty Hall.
Young Robbins has appeared here before. On a previous trip he got the inspiration for the song that is now No. 1 on the Billboard and Cash Box polls. He was driving Into El Paso on the Carlsbad highway at night and there, spread before him, were the twinkling lights of El Paso and Juarez.
"That view inspired me," Mr. Robbins said. "The words came to me right then—a song about El Paso. I worked on it later but it was too long. Columbia wouldn't record it."
Out through the back door of Rosa's I ran,
out where the horses were tied,
I caught a good one, it looked like it could run,
up on its back and away I did ride;
just as fast as I could from the West Texas town
of El Paso, back to the badlands of New Mexico.
Back in El Paso, my life would be worthless,
everything's gone in life, nothing is left...
"I worked it over again and again," Marty related. "I worked on that song for three years, off and on. But instead of making it shorter it got longer. I couldn't tell the story in less than four minutes and 37 seconds."
Meanwhile Marty continued with his other compositions. He sang with Grand Old Opry in Nashville, Tenn. His career had started in his home town, Phoenix, after his discharge from the Navy after World War II.
It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden,
my love is stronger than my fear of death . . .
My love is strong and' it pushes me onward,
down off the hill to Felina I go.
Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys ...
Shouting and shooting I can't let them catch me,
I have to make it to Rosa's back door.
Something is dreadful wrong,
for I feel a deep burning pain in-my side.
"Finally I gave up," Marty said. "I couldn't make the song any shorter. So Columbia went ahead and recorded It —four minutes and 37 seconds long. Well, It's sold pretty well."
I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle,
I feel the bullet go deep in my chest.
From out of nowhere Felina has found me,
kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side.
Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for,
one little kiss and Felina goodbye.
I got married at Rosa's Cantina. I noted that the cantina was opened some time before he wrote the song. He used to drive through on his way to Nashville, TN, and to other gigs in Texas.
Posted by: Roberto S. Beto | August 15, 2011 at 01:07 PM
Rosa’s Cantina is in Smeltertown, West of El Paso. Please note:
Jan. 10, 1960: Mary Robbins' song "El Paso" is No. 1 on the charts.
The lunchtime restaurant and watering hole at 3454 Doniphan, Rosa's Cantina, is an El Paso landmark made famous by the late legendary Marty Robbins in his 1959 hit, "El Paso." Rosa's was made famous with the opening lyrics in Robbins' gunfighter love ballad: "Out in the West Texas town of El Paso, I fell in love with a Mexican girl, Nighttime would find me at Rosa's Cantina, Music would play and Faleena would whirl."
Posted by: Conrado Montes | August 16, 2011 at 06:40 PM