Throughout generations love has blossomed between countless pairs of lovers and grown to be fruitful in the form of a lasting marriage and children.
Sadly, on the other hand, there have been many others that start as strongly but end tragically. Even though ficticious, Romeo and Juliet is quintessentially the tragic love tale to tell.
But another tale set not quite so long ago takes place between two young spirited passionate lovers, set in the American Old West. This is their story, as told by the songwriter/singer Marty Robbins.




Out in the west Texas town of El Paso
I fell in love with a Mexican girl.
Night-time would find me in Rosa's cantina;
Music would play and Feleena would whirl.

Blacker than night were the eyes of Feleena,
Wicked and evil while casting a spell.
My love was deep for this Mexican maiden;
I was in love but in vain, I could tell.

One night a wild young cowboy came in,
Wild as the west Texas wind.
Dashing and daring,
A drink he was sharing
With wicked Feleena,
The girl that I loved.

So in anger I challenged his right for the love of this maiden.
Down went his hand for the gun that he wore.
My challenge was answered in less than a heart-beat;
The handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor.

Just for a moment I stood there in silence,
Shocked by the foul evil deed I had done.
Many thoughts raced through my mind as I stood there;
I had but one chance and that was to run.

Out through the back door of Rosa's I ran,
Out where the horses were tied.
I caught a good one.
It looked like it could run.
Up on its back
And away I did ride,

Just as fast as I could from the west Texas town of El Paso
Out to the bad-lands of New Mexico.

Back in El Paso my life would be worthless.
Everything's gone in life; nothing is left.
It's been so long since I've seen the young maiden
My love is stronger than my fear of death.

I saddled up and away I did go,
Riding alone in the dark.
Maybe tomorrow a bullet may find me.
Tonight nothing's worse than this pain in my heart.

And at last here I am on the hill overlooking El Paso;
I can see Rosa's cantina below.
My love is strong and it pushes me onward.
Down off the hill to Feleena I go.

Off to my right I see five mounted cowboys;
Off to my left ride a dozen or more.
Shouting and shooting I can't let them catch me.
I have to make it to Rosa's back door.

Something is dreadfully wrong for I feel
A deep burning pain in my side
Though I am trying to stay in the saddle,
I'm getting weary, unable to ride.

But my love for Feleena is strong and I rise where I'd fallen,
Though I am weary I can't stop to rest.
I see the white puff of smoke from the rifle.
I feel the bullet go deep in my chest.

From out of nowhere Feleena has found me,
Kissing my cheek as she kneels by my side.
Cradled by two loving arms that I'll die for,
One little kiss and Feleena, good-bye.




Out in New Mexico, many long years ago
There in a shack on the desert, one night in a storm
Amid streaks of lightning and loud desert thunder
To a young Mexican couple, a baby was born;
Just as the baby cried, thunder and lightning died.

Moon gave its light to the world and the stars did the same
Mother and Father, both proud of the daughter
That heaven had sent them, Feleena was this baby's name.

When she was seventen, bothered by crazy dreams
She ran away from the shack and left them to roam
Father and Mother, both asked one another
What made her run away, what made Feleena leave home;
Tired of the desert nights, fartherly grieved to strife
She ran away late one night in the moon's golden beam
She didn't know where she'd go, but she'd get there
And she would find happiness, if she would follow her dream.

After she ran away, she went to Santa Fe
And in the year that she stayed there, she learned about life
In just a little while, she learned that with her smile
She could have pretty clothes, she could be any man's wife.
Rich men romanced her; they dined and they danced her.
She understood men and she treated them all just the same.
A form that was fine and rare, dark shining glossy hair
Lovely to look at, Feleena was this woman's name.

Restless in Sant Fe, she had to get away
To any town where the lights had a much brighter glow
One cowboy mentioned the town of El Paso
They never stopped dancin' and the money like whiskey would flow;
She bought a one-way, a ticket from Santa Fe
Three days and nights on a stage with a rest now and then
She didn't mind that. She knew she would find that
Her new life would be more exciting than where she had been.

The stage made its last stop, up there on the mountain top
To let her see all the lights at the foot of the hill
Her world was brighter and deep down inside her
An uncontrolled beating, her young heart just wouldn't be still.
She got a hotel, a room at the Lily Belle
Quickly she changed to a form-fitting black satin dress
Every man stopped to stare, at this form fine and rare
Even the women remarked of the charm she possessed.

Dancin' and laughter, was what she was after
And Rosa's Cantina had lights, with love in the gleam
That's what she hunted and that's what she wanted
Rosa's was one place, a nice girl would never be seen.
It was the same way, it was back in Santa Fe
Men would make fools of themselves at the thought of romance
Rosa took heed of, the place was in need of
This kind of excitement, so she paid Feleena to dance.

A year passed or maybe more and then through the swingin' doors,
Came a young cowboy so tall and so handsomely dressed
This one was new in town, hadn't been seen around
He was so different, he wasn't like all of the rest.
Feleena danced close to him, then threw a rose to him.
Quickly he walked to her table and there he sat down
And in a day or so, wherever folks would go
They'd see this young cowboy, showin' Feleena the town.

Six weeks he went with her, each minute spent with her
But he was insanely jealous of glances she'd give
Inside he was a-hurtin' from all of her flirtin'
But that was her nature and that was the way that she lived.
She flirted one night, it started a gun-fight
And after the smoke cleared away, on the floor lay a man
Feleena's young lover, had shot down another
And he had to leave there, so out through the back door he ran.

The next day at five o'clock, she heard a rifle shot
Quickly she ran to the door, that was facing the pass.
She saw her cowboy, her wild-ridin' cowboy
Low in the saddle, her cowboy was ridin' in fast.
She ran to meet him, to kiss and to greet him
He saw her and motioned her back, with a wave of his hand
Bullets were flyin', Feleena was cryin'
As she saw him fall from the saddle and into the sand.

Feleena knelt near him, to hold and to hear him
As she felt the warm blood that flowed from the wound in his side.
He raised to kiss her and she heard him whisper
"Never forget me- Feleena it's over, goodbye."
Quickly she grabbed for, the six-gun that he wore
And screamin' in anger and placing the gun to her breast
"Bury us both deep and maybe we'll find peace."
And pulling the trigger, she fell across the dead cowboy's chest.

Out in El Paso, whenever the wind blows,
If you listen closely at night, you'll hear in the wind
A woman is cryin', it's not the wind sighin'
Old timers tell you, Feleena is calling for him.
You'll hear them talking and you'll hear them walking
You'll hear them laugh and you'll look, but there's no one around
Don't be alarmed- there is really no harm there
It's only the young cowboy, showing Feleena the town.

That's a real old timer. I can sing that for you. Thanks for posting bought back memories.