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The Meaning of Marty Robbins’ “El Paso”
Published: December 1, 2024

“El Paso” by Marty Robbins is a Western Ballad first released in 1959 that is widely considered one of the greatest country songs of all time, helping to pioneer the genre of outlaw country. The track appeared on Robbins’ fifth studio album, Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. It has since gone on to be recorded and performed by many different artists, including perhaps most notably, the Grateful Dead between 1969 and 1995.

The track uses a narrative format to tell the story of a love triangle that takes place in the border city of El Paso, Texas. Through the lyrics, the narrator falls in love with a Mexican girl named Feleena, whom is also desired by another cowboy. This becomes a chaotic romance that eventually ends in the death of the narrator.

In this post, in honor of my recent relocation to Austin, TX, I will dive into this classic piece of Texan and American musical history, analyze the lyrics, and share more interesting facts about the song.

Marty Robbins – “El Paso” (1959)

“El Paso” Lyrics Meaning

The lyrics to “El Paso” present a double meaning, where the narrator’s surface-level story is likely different from what is actually happening. I’ve provided the lyrics and insight into the song and the story being told along the way.

Verse 1

Out in the West Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with a Mexican girl
Nighttime would find me in Rosa’s Cantina
Music would play and Feleena would whirl

“El Paso” is down on the border of Texas and Mexico. The bar in El Paso, “Rosa’s Cantina” does indeed exist in real life, and claims to have existed prior to the writing of the song. Of course, now that the song is so famous, the bar has no problem attracting business.

Feleena dances at Rosa’s Cantina, and Robbins falls in love.

Verse 2

Blacker than night were the eyes of Feleena
Wicked and evil while casting her spell
My love was deep for this Mexican maiden
I was in love, but in vain, I could tell

Feleena is presented as an evil figure, spellbinding Robbins to love her in vain. This sets up the conflict in the story, which begins when another suitor enters the bar.

On the surface level, the story is as described. However, the narrator’s description of Feleena as evil is likely a response to her rejection of his advances, and in turn he calls her evil and claims that she cast a spell on him.

Chorus 1

One night, a wild young cowboy came in
Wild as the West Texas wind
Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing
With wicked Feleena, the girl that I love

The young cowboy shares a drink with Feleena at the bar, and our narrator becomes jealous.

Verse 3

So in anger, 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

Without hesitation, he challenges the other cowboy to a duel. No sooner did the cowboy reach for his gun than the narrator struck him down.

In the narrator’s version of the story, this young cowboy was evil. However, in reality, he just killed Feleena’s boyfriend in cold blood.

Verse 4 – Full Length Version

Just for a moment, I stood there in silence
Shocked by the foul, evil deed I had done
Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there
I had but one chance, and that was to run

There were three versions of “El Paso”, the full-length version, which includes this extra verse, a single version, and finally, an abbreviated version.

The single version was under three minutes, keeping with the expectation for country singles at the time. In the end, people preferred the full-length version, so the shortened single version is all but forgotten.

Chorus 2

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

Our narrator steals a horse from behind Rosa’s Cantina, and rode off into the night.

Post Chorus

Just as fast as I could
From the West Texas town of El Paso
Out to the badlands of New Mexico

He leaves El Paso, bound for the badlands of New Mexico. As an aside, this is where the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid hid out after committing his crimes, in the late 1800s.

Verse 5

Back in El Paso my life would be worthless
Everything’s gone in life, nothing is left
It’s been so long since I’ve seen the young maiden
My love is stronger than my fear of death

Some time later, reflecting on the situation, he realizes that his life would be worthless if he went to El Paso, suggesting that he would be killed if he were to return. Still, he misses Feleena enough to want to go back.

He also expresses despair, because he has nothing left in life. He’s wanted for murder and forced to hide out in the wilderness for his actions, or be killed.

Chorus 3

I saddled up, and away I did go
Riding alone in the dark
Maybe tomorrow a bullet may find me
Tonight, nothing’s worse than this pain in my heart

So, that night he gets back on his horse, bound for El Paso to find Feleena, and ease the pain in his heart, regardless of the fact that he might die. Essentially, he goes on a suicide mission after realizing that his life has fallen apart.

Verse 6

And at last, here I am on the hill overlooking El Paso
I can see Rosa’s Cantina below
My love is strong and it pushes me onward
Down off the hill to Feleena, I go

When he reaches El Paso, he looks down upon the city from the top of a hill, spotting Rosa’s Cantina in the city below. He goes toward the bar, the location of Feleena.

Verse 7

Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys
Off to my left ride a dozen or more
Shouting and shooting, I can’t let them catch me
I have to make it to Rosa’s back door

Before he can make it to Rosa’s, he is intercepted by five cowboys on horseback on his right, and a dozen more to his left. They are shouting and shooting but he is determined to get to Rosa’s Cantina.

Chorus 4

Something is dreadfully wrong, for I feel
A deep burning pain in my side
Though I am trying to stay in the saddle
I’m getting weary, unable to ride

The cowboy has been shot in thee side, and is losing consciousness. He tries to stay on his horse, but it becomes increasingly difficult.

Verse 8

But my love for Feleena is strong, and I rise where I’ve fallen
Though I am weary, I can’t stop to rest
I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle
I feel the bullet go deep in my chest

Holding on for his love, he rises from the place where has has fallen. He is now walking towards Rosa’s, and again he is shot, this time deep in his chest.

Outro

From out of nowhere, Feleena 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 Feleena, goodbye

The narrator imagines Feleena appearing in his final moments, to kiss him goodbye. In his version of the story, Feleena did love him, and he dies with this belief.

Closing Thoughts

Marty Robbins’ classic song “El Paso” cleverly uses an unreliable narrator to tell the story of a jealous and delusional lover. The track encapsulates themes of outlaw country music that would become even more prevalent in the decades that followed. Artists like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and more carried the outlaw flag and popularized the subset of country music in the 1970s, which remains popular to this day. His use of an unreliable narrator to tell the story of the cowboy and Feleen