The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
A long time ago in the small border town of Nogales
There lived a beautiful Mexican girl named Ava Maria Morales
Her dark hair would glisten and shine when touched by the sun
And she loved a cowboy that told her he worked on a ranch just outside of Tucson
Diamonds he gave to her caused many people to say
How could he give her such diamonds as these on thirty a month cowboy pay
She paid no attention to what they said or what they did
Cause she never doubted he worked on a ranch out of Tucson just like he said
Then to Nogales one morning came ridin' a stranger
He wore a badge on the front of his vest the new one in town was a ranger
And he showed some pictures of outlaws and bandits he chased
And one of the pictures caused Ava Maria to turn with fear on her face
Ava Maria it's true what they said
Your cowboy's an outlaw with a price on his head
The ranger left town on the trail of the outlaws he hunted
Ava Maria prayed he'd never catch the cowboy she loved and she wanted
Cause deep in her heart she believed that the ranger was wrong
The outlaw just looked like the cowboy that worked on the ranch just outside of Tucson
True love would never let Ava Maria believe it
And there in her window each evening she'd light a candle and hope he would see it
The years turned her dark hair to silver but love still lived on
She prayed every night for the cowboy that worked on the ranch just outside of Tucson
One night the town of Nogales was saddened to see
The window where Ava Maria would watch was dark where a light used to be
Some love stories live for awhile and then they are gone
For over a century the story of Ava Maria has lived on and on
Ava Maria it's your spirit lives on
I hope you have found him at the ranch just outside of Tucson
There lived a beautiful Mexican girl named Ava Maria Morales
Her dark hair would glisten and shine when touched by the sun
And she loved a cowboy that told her he worked on a ranch just outside of Tucson
Diamonds he gave to her caused many people to say
How could he give her such diamonds as these on thirty a month cowboy pay
She paid no attention to what they said or what they did
Cause she never doubted he worked on a ranch out of Tucson just like he said
Then to Nogales one morning came ridin' a stranger
He wore a badge on the front of his vest the new one in town was a ranger
And he showed some pictures of outlaws and bandits he chased
And one of the pictures caused Ava Maria to turn with fear on her face
Ava Maria it's true what they said
Your cowboy's an outlaw with a price on his head
The ranger left town on the trail of the outlaws he hunted
Ava Maria prayed he'd never catch the cowboy she loved and she wanted
Cause deep in her heart she believed that the ranger was wrong
The outlaw just looked like the cowboy that worked on the ranch just outside of Tucson
True love would never let Ava Maria believe it
And there in her window each evening she'd light a candle and hope he would see it
The years turned her dark hair to silver but love still lived on
She prayed every night for the cowboy that worked on the ranch just outside of Tucson
One night the town of Nogales was saddened to see
The window where Ava Maria would watch was dark where a light used to be
Some love stories live for awhile and then they are gone
For over a century the story of Ava Maria has lived on and on
Ava Maria it's your spirit lives on
I hope you have found him at the ranch just outside of Tucson
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Ava Maria Morales Lyrics as written by Marty Robbins
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.