In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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
And in the streets 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
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
And in the streets 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
Lyrics submitted by snarflegnarfen, edited by Mellow_Harsher
Romance in Durango Lyrics as written by Jacques Levy Bob Dylan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great version of a great song,
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for anyone who cares, the spanish bits mean don't cry, dear god watches us (or looks after us) turn to me, my life
I like this son, i've only heard the live version though.
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.
Agreed. The live version is WAY better
actually i think a better translation would be god watches over us.
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.
I on the other hand enjoyed this lovely story, and I love it when American Singers sing in spanish. (I'm form Chile too haha... what are the odds?) Anyways another song I love by some American singers is caleld "And Sleep Al Mar" By Au Revoir Simone. That song is pretty too. you should check it out.<br /> <br /> -Francisco
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...
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,