Story Behind The Song

When I was still in high school my band played in Key West Florida. The motel manager was telling us where restaurants were located nearby, but warned us not to follow a certain street past a point, because that was the Barrio and unsafe for Anglos at night. That made for an interesting song idea.

Song Description

Man is warned by the old man selling coffee in Key West not to follow the beautiful Cuban girl into the Barrio - he understands that his kind may not be welcome. But he can't resist her, risks his life goes with her, and has the most beautiful night of his life. Then he walks the streets looking for her and can never find her again, and finally he understands why the old man warned him "Amigo, you must never go - with her to the Barrio."

Lyrics

?The Barrio?
©1999 Marvin and Raven Taylor/Five Feathers Music/BMI

I used to stand in the killing heat Every day on Duval Street
Just to be there When she?d come walkin? by
We?d smile and get to talkin? But at the corner she?d keep on walkin?
And the old man selling coffee would catch my eye
And say ?Amigo? you must never go.. with her to the Barrio

Well time and time before I?d heard about the troubles in store
For the Gringo Who wants to play the fool
But when she smiled at me that way There was nothing more to say
I was helpless? and I had to break the rules
This time when she?d go? They?d see me go? With her to the Barrio

She took me home And she turned her key
And opened up something Inside of me
And stars came out And music was everywhere
And I said ?With God as my witness, If I die tonight
There ain?t nowhere that I?d rather be
And I would have stayed there? Right there? In the Barrio

(SOLO)

Now sometimes I forget to eat But I?m out on Duval Street
Just prayin? That she?ll come walkin? by
But if you see me I?ll start walkin?? Cause I don?t feel like talkin?
And the old man at the corner softly sighs
He says ?Amigo? I told you not to go? With her to the Barrio
I said don?t go to the Barrio?