ROSE OF THE SAN JOAQUIN

Tom Russell & Ian Tyson – Frontera Music (ASCAP) / Slick Fork Music (SOCAN)

Farewell to the lights of Madera, I’m leavin’ with the wind at my back.

Tell all of my friends in Dos Palos that I’m gone, but I’ll be circling back.

Now I’m crossing the Chowchilia River by the light of a ragged moonbeam,

and I miss The Rose of San Joaquin.

I’ll miss the sun on the Sierra Nevadas, adobe moon on the rise,

shining down on my love in Madera, shining into her dark Spanish eyes.

Oh, she taught me those Mexican love songs, ‘Volver, Volver’ in my dreams,

and I miss The Rose of San Joaquin…

caught somewhere between the road,

and The Rose of San Joaquin.

Well, her black hair fell on the blanket, in the tall grass wet with the dew,
making love through the night by the river, oh Magdalene, how my heart cries for you.
All alone on this highway of darkness, you are the light of my dreams,

and I miss The Rose of San Joaquin…

caught somewhere between the road,

and The Rose of San Joaquin.

Brian Burns – Vocals, Bass, Drums, Acoustic Guitar, Classical Guitar, Accordion, Ceiling Fan
Gary Carpenter – Pedal Steel Guitar
Gary Grammer – Harmonica
Bob Livingston, Matt Thigpen – Backing Vocals

PREVIOUS SONG          NEXT SONG