IN OLD MEXICO
Tom Lehrer

Tom Lehrer (vocal & piano) recorded July 8th 1959 New York


When it's fiesta time in Guadalajara,
Then I long to be back once again in old Mexico,
Where we lived for today,
Never giving a thought for tomara!
To the strumming of guitars
In a hundred grubby bars,
I would whisper "Te amo!".

The mariachis would serenade,
And they would not shut up till they were paid!
We ate, we drank, and we were merry,
And we got typhoid and dysentery!

But best of all, we went to the Plaza de Toros;
Now whenever I start feeling morose,
I revive by recalling that scene,
And names like Bemonte, Dominguin and Manolete;
If I live to a hundred and eighty,
I shall never forget what they mean!

(For there is surely nothing more beautiful in this world
than the sight of a lone man facing singlehandedly
a half a ton of angry pot roast!)

Out came the matador,
Who must have been potted or
Slightly insane, but who looked rather bored.
Then the picadors of course,
Each one on his horse;
I shouted "Ole!" every time one was gored!

I cheered at the banderilleros' display,
As they stuck the bull in their own clever way,
For I hadn't had so much fun since the day
My brother's dog Rover
Got run over!

(Rover was killed by a Pontiac,
and it was done with such grace and artistry
that the witnesses awarded the driver
both ears and the tail - but I digress!)

The moment had come,
I swallowed my gum,
We knew there'd be blood on the sand pretty soon.
The crowd held its breath,
Hoping that death
Would brighten an otherwise dull afternoon.

At last, the matador did what we wanted him to,
He raised his arm and his aim was true!
In that moment of truth I suddenly knew
That someone had stolen my wallet!

Now it's fiesta time in Akron, Ohio,
But it's back to old Guadalajara I'm longing to go,
Far away from the strikes of the A F of L and C I O;
How I wish I could get back
To the land of the wetback,
And forget the Alamo
In old Mexico,
Ole!



(Transcribed by Peter Akers - April 2013)