(Is This the Way To) Amarillo

Tony Christie

About (Is This the Way To) Amarillo

"(Is This The Way To) Amarillo" is a song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield. It is about a man traveling to Amarillo, Texas, to find his girlfriend Marie. The song was originally to be titled "Is This the Way to Pensacola" referring to Pensacola, Florida, but Sedaka felt that Amarillo worked better than Pensacola. Written by two Americans with a strong country-western lyrical theme, the song was first released in Europe, where it has become much more popular than in the composers' native country, with a big-band/orchestral pop arrangement sung by Tony Christie. Christie's version was a major hit in Europe and a modest success in his native United Kingdom upon its release, then became even more popular in the mid-2000s when the song was reissued. As Christie's version failed to make a major impact in the U. S., Sedaka released his own recording of the song in 1977, which narrowly missed the top 40 but was an easy listening hit in the U. S. and Canada. 


Year:
2000
3:12
117 
#3

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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

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Tony Christie

Tony Christie (born Anthony Fitzgerald, 25 April 1943) is an English musician, singer and actor. He is best known for his track, "Is This The Way To Amarillo", a double UK chart success. more »

1 fan

Written by: HOWARD GREENFIELD, NEIL SEDAKA

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Creation
"(Is This the Way To) Amarillo" was written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield.
Release Year
The song was first recorded by Sedaka and released in America in 1971.
British Chart Success
Tony Christie's version of the song was released in the UK in November 1971, where it hit number 18 in the charts that year and reached number 1 when re-released in 2005.
Re-release
The song had a resurgence in popularity in the UK in 2005 when it was used in a high-profile Comic Relief sketch by popular television comedian Peter Kay.
Dance Routine
As part of the sketch, a unique dance routine was created which has since become iconic in the UK.
Spanish Connection
Despite its title, the song has nothing to do with Amarillo, Texas. Sedaka chose Amarillo because it sounded Spanish and exotic.
Charity
The 2005 re-release of "(Is This the Way To) Amarillo" raised over £1.5 million for charity.
Longest UK Number 1
The 2005 re-release stayed at number 1 in the UK charts for 7 weeks, making it one of the longest running number 1s in UK chart history.
Cover Versions
Numerous artists have covered the song, including Daniel O'Donnell and Hermes House Band, but Christie's versions are the most famous.
Music Video
The 2005 music video featured appearances by several British celebrities, including Michael Parkinson, Ronnie Corbett, and Mr Blobby.

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