Sonora's Death Row

About Sonora's Death Row

"Sonora's Death Row" is a story song written by California songwriter Kevin "Blackie" Farrell and published by Drifter Music/Bug Music (BMI), ©1975. Recorded covers of the song have been performed by Robert Earl Keen, Leo Kottke, Michael Martin Murphey, Tom Russell, Richard Shindell, Dave Alvin, Johnny Rodriguez and others. The song was also printed in the 1995 Spring issue of Sing Out! with the following introduction: Legendary Texas Ranger and Arizona Border Guard Jeff Milton once described Sonora as a hell and a paradise, Michael Martin Murphy tells us. Blackie Farrell's classic Old West ballad, Murphy says, "captures the dangers implicit in cowboys on a tequila spree." more »

Year:

1991

4:10

180 Views

Playlists:

#1

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer

Well the Mezcal is free in Amanda's saloon 
For the boys from the old Broken O
Saturday nights in the town of Sonora 
Are the best in all Mexico
They've got guitars and trumpets and sweet senoritas 
Who won't want to let you go
You'd never believe such a gay happy town 
Had a street named Sonora's Death Row  

Well inside Amanda's we were all dancin' 
With all of Amanda's gals
I won some silver at seven card stud 
So I was outdoin' my pals
But the whiskey and mezcal and peso cigars 
Drove me outside for some air
Where somebody whispered "Your life or your money" 
I reached but my gun wasn't there  

I woke up face down in Amanda's back alley
Aware of the fool I had been
I rushed to my pony, I grabbed my Winchester 
And I entered Amanda's Again
Where I saw my partners twirlin' my pistols 
And throwin' my money Around
Blinded by rage, I pulled the trigger 
And one of them fell to the ground  

Well Amanda's grew silent like night in the desert
My friends stared in pure disbelief
Amanda was kneeling beside the dead cowboy 
Plainly expressing her grief
And as I bowed my head, a tremble shot through me
My six-gun was there at my side
I felt in my pockets and there was my money
I fell to my knees and I cried  

For a nightmare of mezcal was all that it was 
No one had robbed me at all
I wish I was dreamin' the sound of the gallows 
They're testin' just outside the walls
And the mezcal's still free in Amanda's saloon 
For the boys from the old Broken O
And I'd give a ransom to drink there today 
And be free of Sonora's Death Row 
Yeah I'd give a ransom to drink there today 
And be free of Sonora's Death Row

 Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!

Tom Russell

Thomas George "Tom" Russell (born March 5, 1947/1948[dubious – discuss]) is an American singer-songwriter. Although most strongly identified with the Texas Country music tradition, his music also incorporates elements of folk, Tex-Mex, and the cowboy music of the American West. Many of his songs have been recorded by other artists, including Johnny Cash, k.d. lang, Guy Clark, Joe Ely, Jason Boland, Nanci Griffith, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Iris Dement, Dave Alvin, and Suzy Bogguss. Tom has also done collaborative work with renowned cowboy poet Paul Zarzyski. They have worked together on a few songs which have appeared in Tom's works over the years. more »

Follow 1 fan