Well all my friends treated me so well
You know I'm headed out to that Mission Bell
Gonna wash my soul, gonna get it clean
Heading down the border road called the El Camino

Well I've been a prince, you know I've been a post
By a barb wire fence and a murder of crows
I believe in all I've loved and all I have seen
Heading down border road called the El Camino
Heading down border road called the El Camine

Yeah my hearts grown sick,
I've got a shepherds crook as a walking stick
And I'm heading on.
Yeah my hearts gone blue and I've done wrong by you
I don't know what to do
But I'm moving on, yeah I'm moving on

One and one is two, two and two is four
I'm walking back and forth
On your cracked tiled kitchen floor
With the orange juice and the sun that shines
It really breaks my heart leaving you behind,
It really breaks my heart leaving you behind

All my ships have sailed away
The price of this politic,
That there's plenty of time to play.
Plenty of time to waste away.

Well to all my friends, that I've loved the most
You know I'm heading out to that other coast
Gonna wash my soul, gonna get it clean
Heading down the border road, called the El Camino,
Heading down the border road, called the El Camine.


Lyrics submitted by TheDevilWearsPrada, edited by mjtrulli

El Camino song meanings
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    General Comment

    In several places, this CD (Mission Bell) seems to imply a newly found awareness of preciousness of life and the realization of inevitable mortality. Not sure whether its inspiration is from the writer finding he is going to die or opening eyes to greater power, i.e. God. In the song "WIndows Are Rolled Down", the latter seems a likely element, in either case, as it is stated "my new found faith and my broken heart". Also, in El Camino, he writes he is going to wash his soul clean and makes reference to prayer (which I emphasize in the next paragraph). Anyhow, I see this song alluding to an eye opening event where the old world he has been existing in is coming to a close and he is venturing out with a new awareness, leaving close friends, whom he has deep affection for, behind. He states that his old belief (politic) was where he always felt there was plenty of time to prayer and plenty of time to waste away. Now, he sees that is not necessarily so. He's realized this and his perceptions and way of life will now be changed, by his choice. A pretty song. I really liked the version where Willie Nelson joined him on duet, on this same CD. Willie really contributed his classic deep and lonesome feel to the mix, though Amos' solo version is very good on its own.

    Yosemiteguyon December 14, 2011   Link

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