Hot chili peppers in the blistering sun
Dust on my face and my cape,
Me and Magdalena on the run
I think this time we shall escape.

Sold my guitar to the baker's son
For a few crumbs and a place to hide,
But I can get another one
And I'll play for Magdalena as we ride.

No llores, mi querida
Dios nos vigila
Soon the horse will take us to Durango.
Agarrame, mi vida
Soon the desert will be gone
Soon you will be dancing the fandango.

Past the Aztec ruins and the ghosts of our people
Hoofbeats like castanets on stone.
At night I dream of bells in the village steeple
Then I see the bloody face of Ramon.

Was it me that shot him down in the cantina
Was it my hand that held the gun?
Come, let us fly, my Magdalena
The dogs are barking and what's done is done.

No llores, mi querida
Dios nos vigila
Soon the horse will take us to Durango.
Agarrame, mi vida
Soon the desert will be gone
Soon you will be dancing the fandango.

At the corrida we'll sit in the shade
And watch the young torero stand alone.
We'll drink tequila where our grandfathers stayed
When they rode with Villa into Torreon.

Then the padre will recite the prayers of old
In the little church this side of town.
I will wear new boots and an earring of gold
You'll shine with diamonds in your wedding gown.

The way is long but the end is near
Already the fiesta has begun.
The face of God will appear
With His serpent eyes of obsidian.

No llores, mi querida
Dios nos vigila
Soon the horse will take us to Durango.
Agarrame, mi vida
Soon the desert will be gone
Soon you will be dancing the fandango.

Was that the thunder that I heard?
My head is vibrating, I feel a sharp pain
Come sit by me, don't say a word
Oh, can it be that I am slain?

Quick, Magdalena, take my gun
Look up in the hills, that flash of light.
Aim well my little one
We may not make it through the night.

No llores, mi querida
Dios nos vigila
Soon the horse will take us to Durango.
Agarrame, mi vida
Soon the desert will be gone
Soon you will be dancing the fandango.



Lyrics submitted by snarflegnarfen, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Track duration: 05:44


Romance in Durango song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:ALLEN
    GINSBERG
    IN THE DESIRE LINER NOTES
    WRITES OF THIS SONG:

    masterpieces emerged- Song
    become conscious poetry, the best
    you can say in total rhythm, allowing
    for your speech to fall like your
    mother's radiotalk, allowing for
    the singer to open up his whole body
    for Inspiration to breathe out
    a long mad vowel to nail down
    the word into everyone's heart-
    That's where you get the funny
    syncopation- waiting to
    pronounce the line just right
    as the music marches by, free, hopeless,
    jumping in and out the fatal chords...
    Flag TheThornBirdson February 20, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I guess you got a point, there, Cavern. When you're listening to a song in a foreign language, it's odd to hear a bit of your native tongue in it. Nevertheless, I like the Spanish part. I sometimes sing it to myself when I'm wandering around (especially if it's hot out, like being in a desert).

    As for meaning, I think it's just a good story song. Seems pretty self-explanatory when you look at it. But it's still Dylan, so you make make it mean whatever you want.
    Flag Nick the Bastardon May 29, 2007   Link
  • -2
    General Comment:the Spanish bit is stupid. I hate this song. I'm Chilean, so it kinda throws me off to hear the Sad-Eyed Prophet in horrible Spanish, sounding like a stupid gringo,
    Flag cavernon December 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:actually i think a better translation would be god watches over us.
    Flag meursaultsrevolveron April 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:for anyone who cares, the spanish bits mean
    don't cry, dear
    god watches us (or looks after us)
    turn to me, my life
    Flag meursaultsrevolveron April 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The live version on Biograph is 1000 times better than the studio version imo....I haven't heard the live version on Bootleg 5 though.
    Flag DJacques75on May 24, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I like this son, i've only heard the live version though.
    Flag skankin_joelon May 13, 2004   Link

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