Robert Earl Keen - Gringo Honeymoon Lyrics






We were standing on a mountain top
where the cactus flowers grow
I was wishing that the world would stop
when you said we better go
We took a row boat across the Rio Grande
captain Pablo was our guide
For two dollars in a weathered hand
he rowed us to the other side

We were dreaming like
the end was not in sight
and we dreamed all afternoon
We asked the world to wait
so we can celebrate
a gringo honeymoon

We stepped out onto the golden sand
the sun was high and burning down
Rented donkeys from an old blind man
saddled up and rode to town
Tied our donkeys to an iron wood tree
by the stream where children play
We went in the first place we could see
serving cold beer in the shade

And we were drinking like
the end was not in sight
and we drank all afternoon
We asked the world to wait
so we can celebrate
a gringo honeymoon

Met a cowboy who said that he
was running from the D.E.A.
He left his home his wife and family
when he made his get away
We followed him on down a street at dusk
to his one room run down shack
He blew a smoke ring and he smiled at us
I ain't ever goin back

We were flying like
the end was not in sight
and we sold out that afternoon
We asked the world to wait
so we can celebrate
a gringo honeymoon

He said there's one last place that you should go
He took us to the town's best bar
He knew a crusty caballero
who played an old gut string guitar
and he sang like Marty Robbins could
Played like no one I've known
For a while we knew that life was good
and it was ours to take back home

And we were singing like
the end was not in sight
And we sang all afternoon
We asked the world to wait
so we can celebrate
a gringo honeymoon

We were standing on a mountain top
where the cactus flowers grow
I was wishing that the world would stop
when you said we better go





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Robert Earl Keen Gringo Honeymoon Comments
  1. J.... A....

    I just discovered REK over this Christmas holiday when his Merry Christmas from the Family was played on the radio. Then I listened to a couple of his other songs, and now I feel like I've discovered somebody brand new, even though I know most of you watching this have known about him for a long time. So glad I know about him now. You can see the joy in him when he plays. This man is a light in our world.

  2. W.... P....

    What the fuck did Mr Lovett do?

  3. W.... P....

    Green go's congrats!

  4. C.... M....

    20yrs and counting...still hits me the same as the first time. Amazing

  5. J.... P....

    Well done REK. Man, Lyle is a straight up ghoul 😶

  6. q.... b....

    Listening to REK is like watching a movie.

  7. S.... S....

    REK is the GOAT! Hands down

    S.... S....

    Rock on brother! Not sure of the GOAT. Don't care ... rock on!!!

  8. M.... M....

    I imagine this song about someone standing atop the mountain at the beginning imagining all of the things REK sings, but it is just a day dream since they are still standing on top of the same mountain where she says, "we'd better go."

  9. M.... B....

    I'd like to see REK, Lyle Lovett, and John Hiatt get together, and do a "Highwaymen" or "Travelling Wilburys" like project. That would be neat!

  10. M.... B....

    Great song! I detected a bit of "Pinball Wizard" in it.

  11. R.... B....

    Two of the Great ones, even though they were aggies. We need to hear more from them these days.

    R.... B....

    lol for real i did

  12. K.... S....

    First heard this in 2002.
    I'll always hold this song close to my heart.. 💙

  13. D.... H....

    Texas Music REK you make us proud, brother.

  14. j.... d....

    He did a great job with a buzz on.

  15. w.... g....

    you cant not like earl keen if you any respect for music.
    you have to respect grabbing your guitar and singing a story and truley feeling the emotion in the music.
    thats the REAL sound of Texas

  16. K.... N....

    One of the best REK songs. He was my second concert ever....did not disappoint.

  17. M.... ....

    Lyle, move, blink something!!

  18. P.... E....

    Las Boquillas.  great song

  19. u.... ....

    How do we access the full airing?

  20. J.... D....

    There was an outlaw who was running from the DEA, Robert met him in Boquies Mexico while he lived there. I have had the pleasure of knowing both him and his son. Both are in the good ole US of A and doing great. If you like REK listen to "Billy Grey" as it was written about an actual cowboy in 1883 who was running from Kansas and went to Texas which was another country back then. The words (18 in all) were " True love knows no reason, no reason no time or no season, justice is as cold as the Granger County clay". A truely memorable song about the "Old West" when freedom was practiced instad of one walking aroun without any defense other than a tounge. Now most of the men and boys do not know even basic defense much less actual survival skills. Someting that will take a BIG bite of ones posterior one day soon.

    J.... D....

    Good story, except for the part about Texas , it definitely was an independent country earlier , but it was a state in the United States in 1883

  21. p.... e....

    Absolutely classic REK - fantastic in every way
    Could, and often do, listen to him all day
    Wonderful and very cool to see him him playing this with just his guitar and a microphone

  22. t.... c....

    love REK

  23. M.... ....

    You know when a singer songwriter has done a good job. You know because he makes you say "I've felt that way before" or "I know just what he's singing about" or as we see below... "That place he's singing about, it's real, I've been there"
    Some of you may not want to acknowledge it, but I will... There's a cord, or string, or whatever you want to call it inside of you, and when you feel that lump in your throat or that moisture in the corner of your eye, you know that's because REK reached inside you and gave that emotional cord a tug. When a singer songwriter does that you know he's succeeded.

    M.... ....

    What are you? A fucking idiot? Listen and shut up.

    M.... ....

    @Lynn Miller if only you would take your own advice.

  24. i.... ....

    This song is about Boquillos Crossing, inside Big Bend National Park, and Boquillos del Carmen, a little town just up the hill from the Rio Grande. The crossing is still there, and you can still take a boat across and ride a donkey up the hill.

    i.... ....

    but since the Rangers popped Juan it's not as easy to buy much pot. . oh wait. . yes it is. . never mind. . .but you ain't gonna buy it from old Juan.

  25. D.... F....

    Lyle looks like a cardboard cutout! LoL.

    D.... F....

    +DAM FLA Not so. He's mesmerized with a fellow artist who is just bringing it, like Lyle does:) In awe..two greats alongside one another in quiet contemplation. My take anyway.

    D.... F....

    that's right. . .he's not from Texas.  :-)  DAM FLA that is

  26. M.... B....

    Just doesn't get any better than this...mesmerizing stuff right here.

  27. J.... T....

    does it best at hardly strictly bluegrass

  28. P.... C....

    I've been to big bend in 1996-97 and I can guarantee like the other guy says. This is what the song is about.

  29. M.... ....

    What a sweet sweet song .. makes one want to be young and in love again. Sigh !  
    What is with the plastic bottled water I see on most shows ?  Really !

    M.... ....

    Las Boquillas. . just a few hours due south of me.

  30. J.... V....

    awesome song

  31. S.... ....

    visited Big Bend National Park and Boquillas Mexico back in 2000 and this song is dead on in describing the experience over there.  Great lyrics and even better song. 

  32. S.... ....

    How fortunate to be in the audience. Wow.

  33. P.... J....

    This is such a beautiful song. Lyrically, it's subtle and compelling; I think the words  are no less than an updated version of Matthew Arnold's "Dover Beach." Robert Earl Keen deserves props from every demographic.

  34. M.... T....

    cooler then Steve Earle

    M.... T....

    Probably a much nicer guy too!

  35. M.... ....

    great song. great video. The mic needs improvement....