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1975 – Albuquerque – Neil Young

Songs About New Mexico: Albuquerque

written and performed by Neil Young (1975)

The single Albuquerque is from Young’s sixth studio album, Tonight’s the Night, released in June 1975 on Reprise Records. “The most noticeable feature of this track is how disciplined Young’s vocal sounds,” Johnny Rogan writes in The Complete Guide to the Music of Neil Young. “It’s as if he’s sobered up completely, even though the lyrics would have sounded equally appropriate if he had sung them completely out of tune.”

The album was recorded in August–September 1973, mostly on August 26, but its release was delayed for two years. It peaked at #25 on the Billboard 200. In 2003, the album was ranked number 331 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

Lyrics

Well, they say
that Santa Fe
Is less than ninety miles away,
And I got time to roll a number
and rent a car.
Oh, Albuquerque.

I’ve been flyin’
down the road,
And I’ve been starvin’ to be alone,
And independent from the scene
that I’ve known.
Albuquerque.

So I’ll stop when I can,
Find some fried eggs
and country ham.
I’ll find somewhere where
they don’t care who I am.
Oh, Albuquerque,
Albuquerque.

℗ 1974 Warner Bros. Records Inc.

No copyright is claimed in the above creative examples and to the extent that material may appear to be infringed, the New Mexico Music Commission asserts that such alleged infringement is permissible under fair use principles in U.S. copyright laws. If you believe these materials have been used in an unauthorized manner, please contact us.

 

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showcase Songs

1974 – Worse Comes To Worst – Billy Joel

Songs About New Mexico: Worse Comes To Worst

written and performed by Billy Joel (1974)

Worse Comes to Worst” was released as the 2nd single from Joel’s 1974 album Piano Man. It reached #80 on the Billboard Hot 100. Author Ken Bielen describes “Worse Comes to Worst” as being “a little bit country, a little bit rock and a little bit gospel.”

Lyrics

Today I’m livin’ like a rich man’s son
Tomorrow mornin’ I could be a bum
It doesn’t matter which direction, though
I know a woman in New Mexico

Worse comes to worst
I’ll get along
I don’t know how, but sometimes
I can be strong
Oh, and if I don’t have a car, I’ll hitch
I got a thumb and she’s a son of a bitch
I do my writing on my road guitar
And make a living at a piano bar, oh

Lightning and thunder
Flashed across the roads we drove upon
Oh, but it’s clear skies we’re under
When I am together, when I sing the song

Oh, fun ain’t easy if it ain’t free
Too many people got a hold on me
But I know something that they don’t know
I know a woman in New Mexico

Songwriter: Billy Joel

Worse Comes to Worst lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

No copyright is claimed in the above creative examples and to the extent that material may appear to be infringed, the New Mexico Music Commission asserts that such alleged infringement is permissible under fair use principles in U.S. copyright laws. If you believe these materials have been used in an unauthorized manner, please contact us.

 

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news Songs

1990 – Santa Fe ~ Jon Bon Jovi

Songs About New Mexico: Santa Fe

written and performed by Jon Bon Jovi (1990)

“Santa Fe” is the 5th track on the album Blaze of Glory, Jon Bon Jovi’s debut solo studio album, released in 1990. It includes songs from and inspired by the movie Young Guns II. Emilio Estevez asked for Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” as the theme song for his upcoming Billy the Kid sequel, but Jon Bon Jovi ended up composing an all-new theme song for the film’s soundtrack instead. The album featured guests such as Elton John, Little Richard, and Jeff Beck. Blaze of Glory was awarded a Golden Globe. It also received Academy Award and Grammy nominations. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart. Bon Jovi’s lyrics from the song “Santa Fe” are quoted in the 1998 book, About a Boy, although the author, Nick Hornby, would have been light-heartedly referring to John Donne’s “No Man Is an Island”. The song is also quoted in the film High Fidelity.

Bon Jovi’s song “Santa Fe” was suggested for inclusion in our Songs About New Mexico list by Chris Romero. Thank you, Chris!

Lyrics

They say that no man is an island
And good things come to those who wait
The things are here or there just to remind me
Every dog will have his day

The spirits they intoxicate me
I watched them infiltrate my soul
They try to say it’s too late for me
Tell my guns I’m coming home

I swear I’m gonna live forever
Tell my maker he can wait
I’m riding somewhere south of heaven
Heading back to Santa Fe
It’s judgment day in Santa Fe

Once I was promised absolution
There’s only one solution for my sins
You gotta face your ghosts and know
With no illusions
That only one of you is going home again

And I blame this world for making
A good man evil
It’s this world that can drive a
Good man mad
And it’s this world that turns a killer
Into a hero
Well I blame this world for making
A good man bad

Now I ain’t getting into heaven
If the devil has his way
I swear I’m gonna live forever
Heading back to Santa Fe
Got debts to pay in Santa Fe
It’s judgment day in Santa Fe
(oh lord have mercy)

So I save a prayer
When I need it most
To the Father, Son
And the Holy Ghost
And I’ll sign it from a sinner
With no name

When I meet my maker
Will he close the book
On the hearts I broke
And the lives I took
Will he walk away
‘Cause my soul’s
It’s too late to save

Now I ain’t getting into heaven
If the devil has his way
I swear I’m gonna live forever
Heading back to Santa Fe
Got debts to pay in Santa Fe
It’s judgment day in Santa Fe

Songwriter: Jon Bon Jovi
Santa Fe lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

for more information: bonjovi.com

source: wikipedia.org

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showcase Songs

1977 – Bus Ride Blues – The Nolan Brothers

Songs About New Mexico: Bus Ride Blues

written and performed by The Nolan Brothers (1977)

The Nolan Brothers are in fact four brothers – Tom, Mark, Bill, and Chris Nolan – from Albuquerque. They formed their band in 1977 and perform mostly original music.

They’ve released two CDs (Eastern Sea Beard and Grandpa Rock) available online at YouTube, Amazon, and iTunes.

Listen to their song “Bus Ride Blues” below:


Lyrics

Well, I’m sorry that I hurt you honey, sorry that I had to go

And there’s one thing that I’ve got to tell you, one thing that I want you to know

It’s a long and lonely bus ride home from Massachusetts to New Mexico

It’s a long and lonely bus ride home from Massachusetts to New Mexico

Well, I hated to say goodbye to you

It left my heart so full of grief

And if everything wasn’t bad enough

I had a terrible achin’ in my teeth

Well, I’m sorry that I hurt you honey, sorry that I had to go

And there’s one thing that I’ve got to tell you, one thing that I want you to know

It’s a long and lonely bus ride home from Massachusetts to New Mexico

It’s a long and lonely bus ride home from Massachusetts to New Mexico

Well, I’ve never known lovin’ like yours before

The kind that would make me drool

Well, I must have been crazy to let you go

I surely must be a fool

Well, I’m sorry that I hurt you honey, sorry that I had to go

And there’s one thing that I’ve got to tell you, one thing that I want you to know

It’s a long and lonely bus ride home from Massachusetts to New Mexico

It’s a long and lonely bus ride home from Massachusetts to New Mexico

Well, I’m sorry that I hurt you honey, sorry that I had to go

And there’s one thing that I’ve got to tell you, one thing that I want you to know

It’s a long and lonely bus ride home from Massachusetts to New Mexico

It’s a long and lonely bus ride home from Massachusetts to New Mexico

Contact

Bill Nolan, (505) 254-8970, wnolan9@gmail.com

Mark Nolan, (505) 922-5047, mnstretch@gmail.com

No copyright is claimed in the above creative examples and to the extent that material may appear to be infringed, the New Mexico Music Commission asserts that such alleged infringement is permissible under fair use principles in U.S. copyright laws. If you believe these materials have been used in an unauthorized manner, please contact us.

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showcase Songs

2017 – Burque by Breakfast – Chile Pi

Songs About New Mexico: ‘Burque by Breakfast

written by Susan McCasland and performed by Chile Pi (2017)

‘Burque by Breakfast’ is Chile Pi’s love song to Albuquerque, recorded August 2017 at Third Eye Studio in Tijeras, New Mexico.

Chile Pi is an Albuquerque-based acoustic duo specializing in pop, rock, folk, country, blues, and classic lounge music. Members are Susan McCasland and Albuquerque native, John Martinez. John plays lead guitar and provides backup vocals. Susan plays rhythm guitar and sings lead.

Here’s an article (.pdf) about Chile Pi, written by Alissa Ranf of the Sandia & High Desert Neighbors magazine. The article was published in January 2017 and features images by Kim Jew Photography.

Lyrics

Straight and flat defines the drive.
The road goes on and on and on.
Am I the only soul alive?
Feelin’ like I’m on the run.

Dark and flat and straight with lights
From windmill farms right next to oil.
Thank God it’s night, can’t see those sights.
I race across the prairie soil

‘Cause I’ll be back in Burque by breakfast.
Don’t you know that feels so good.
Back in Burque at long last.
Sure, I’d stay if I only could.

I long to see Sandia Crest
And golden bosque trees in fall.
You know green chile is the best;
But adovada tops them all.

But what I miss the most are those
Cultures from a thousand years
That blend, so Albuquerque’s close
To an ideal. The sun appears.

One burrito breakfast down>
At Santa Ana Star Café.
Take Rio Grande to Old Town.
Then catch a Kimo matinée.

On to Nob Hill near UNM,
Where old Route 66 exists.
I shop a bit, then go to meet
A couple Kirtland scientists.

I’d love to hike up La Luz trail
Then let the tram whisk me away.
But, sadly, I’ve run out of time.
My Sunport flight won’t let me stay.

for more information: Chile Pi on ReverbNation

source: Susan McCasland

Categories
showcase Songs

1980 – Que Viva Nuevo Mexico – Steve Ortiz

Songs About New Mexico: Que Viva Nuevo Mexico

written and performed by Steve Ortiz (1980)

Que Viva Nuevo Mexico is one of the official state songs of New Mexico. Steve Ortiz was a member of Los Coronados.

Used with the permission of Marcela Perez (MEL Music and Records)