El Paso (song)

"El Paso" is a country and western ballad written and originally recorded by Marty Robbins, released in 1959. It became one of Robbins' signature songs and is highly regarded for its storytelling, length (over four minutes, unusually long for a single at the time), and distinctive musical style.

The song tells the story of a cowboy in the Old West who falls in love with a Mexican girl named Feleena at Rosa's cantina in El Paso, Texas. Driven by jealousy, he kills a man who is also vying for her affection. The cowboy flees El Paso, weighed down by guilt and remorse. After spending time away, he is overcome with love for Feleena and returns to El Paso, knowing he will likely be killed. He finds Feleena, receives one final kiss from her, and then dies in her arms after being shot by a posse.

The song is characterized by its vivid imagery, detailed narrative, and use of traditional Mexican musical elements, including mariachi-style trumpets and guitar. "El Paso" won the Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording in 1960.

Due to its popularity and intricate storyline, "El Paso" spawned two sequels, "Feleena (From El Paso)" (1960) and "El Paso City" (1976), which offer further perspectives on the original story and provide more detail about the characters. The song remains a classic of the country music genre and is often cited as one of the greatest country songs of all time.