^COut in the West Texas ^Dmtown of El Paso ^G7I fell in love with a Mexican ^Cgirl. Nighttime would find me in ^DmRose's Cantina, ^G7Music would play and Felina would ^Cwhirl.

^CBlacker than night were the ^Dmeyes of Felina, ^G7Wicked and evil while casting a ^Cspell. My love was deep for this ^DmMexican maiden, ^G7I was in love, but in vain I could ^Ctell.

^FOne night a wild young ^Ccowboy came ^Fin, Wild as the ^CWest Texas ^C7wind. ^C7Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing, ^C7With wicked Felina, the girl that I ^Flove. So in ^G7anger

^CI challenged his right for the ^Dmlove of this maiden; ^G7Down went his hand for the gun that he ^Cwore. My challenge was answered, in ^Dmless than a heartbeat ^G7The handsome young stranger lay dead on the ^Cfloor.

^CJust for a moment I ^Dmstood there in silence, ^G7Shocked by the foul evil deed I had ^Cdone. Many thoughts ran through my ^Dmmind as I stood there; ^G7I had but one chance and that was to ^Crun.

^FOut through the back door of ^CRose's I r^Fan, Out where the ^Chorses were ^C7tied. ^C7I caught a good one; it looked like it could run, ^C7Up on its back and away I did ^Fride. Just as ^G7fast as

^CI could from the West Texas ^Dmtown of El Paso, ^G7Out to the badlands of New Mexi^Cco. Back in El Paso my ^Dmlife would be worthless; ^G7Everything's gone in life nothing is ^Cleft.

^CIt's been so long since I've ^Dmseen the young maiden, ^G7My love is stronger that my fear of ^Cdeath.

^FI saddled up and aw^Cay I did ^Fgo, Riding al^Cone in the ^C7dark. ^C7Maybe tomorrow a bullet may find me, ^C7Tonight nothing's worse than this pain in my ^Fheart. And as l^G7ast here

I ^Cam on the hill over^Dmlooking El Paso, ^G7I can see Rose's Cantina be^Clow. My love is strong and it ^Dmpushes me onward, ^G7Down off the hill to Felina I ^Cgo.

^COff to my right I see ^Dmfive mounted cowboys, ^G7Off to my left ride a ^Cdozen and more. Shouting and shooting; I ^Dmcan't let them catch me, ^G7I have to make it to Rose's back d^Coor.

^FSomething is dreadfully ^Cwrong for I ^Ffeel A ^Cdeep burning ^C7pain in my side. ^C7Though I am trying to stay in the saddle. ^C7I'm getting weary, unable to ^Fride. But my ^G7love for

^CFelina is strong and I ^Dmrise where I've fallen; ^G7Though I am weary, I can't stop to ^Crest. I see the white puff of ^Dmsmoke from the rifle, ^G7I feel the bullet go deep in my ^Cchest.

^CFrom out of nowhere, Fel^Dmina has found me, ^G7Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my ^Cside. Cradled by two loving ^Dmarms that I'll die for, ^G7One little kiss and Felina good^Cbye.

Mtburr (mtburr@gmail.com) adapted this tab from the excellent version by Greg Vaughn (gvaughn@olga.net). This adaptation corrects a few of the lyrics, but more importantly it strips out the tab intro and inserts the chords for all lines, so (hopefully) UG's active chords will work for transposition. (Marty Robbins's voice is pretty high and tough for basses and baritones to follow.) Here's Greg's note from the original below; it's a good suggestion. I'd suggest playing A7 as (x02223). Alternate bass notes on beats one and four throughout the verses. You might want to try Dadd9 (xx0230) in place of the D in the first line of the chorus.

Marty Robbins - El paso