Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Small word wonder

Devil Woman
Marty Robbins


I've added this song to my "Small Words" page. "Shack" was originally of the desert southwest/Mexican origin (probably), and "gull" is from Welsh (long ago), but otherwise the words are old to ancient English. Though the stereotypical "anglo-saxon words" are four letters, the longest word ("evermore") is plenty old and English. It's two four-letter words stuck together.

Musically, this is (as is the song "El Paso," also written by Marty Robbins) in the style of Mexican music. Marty Robbins grew up in Arizona. This song has quite a calypso and seaside element, whereas "El Paso" is in the traditional "ranchera" style (northern Mexico, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas).


I told Mary about us,
     I told her about our great sin.
Mary cried and forgave me,
      Mary took me back again,
Said if I wanted my freedom
     I could be free evermore.
But I don't want to be,
and I don't want to see
     Mary cry anymore.

Oh, Devil Woman,
Devil Woman, let go of me.
Devil Woman, let me be,
And leave me alone.
I want to go home.

Mary is waitin' and weepin'
     down in our shack by the sea.
Even after I've hurt her,
     Mary's still in love with me.
Devil Woman it's over,
     trapped no more by your charms,
Cause I don't want to stay.
I want to get away;
     Woman let go of my arm.

Oh, Devil Woman,
Devil Woman, let go of me.
Devil Woman, let me be,
And leave me alone.
I want to go home.

Devil Woman, you're evil,
     like the dark coral reef.
Like the winds that bring high tides,
     you bring sorrow and grief.
You made me ashamed to face Mary
     barely had the strength to tell.
Skies are not so black,
Mary took me back,
     Mary has broken your spell.

Oh, Devil Woman,
Devil Woman, let go of me.
Devil Woman, let me be,
And leave me alone.
I want to go home.

Runnin' along by the seashore,
     runnin' as fast as I can.
Even the seagulls are happy
     glad I'm comin' home again.
Never again will I ever
     cause another tear to fall.
Down the beach I see
What belongs to me,
      The one I want most of all.

Oh, Devil Woman,
Devil Woman, don't follow me.
Devil Woman let me be,
And leave me alone.
I'm goin' back home.



_______________________

There are a dozen or more songs on the Small Words page. Here's another post from this blog that led there, too, through the song Sunshine, by Jonathan Edwards.