Western Song: The Old Cantina

Aside from The Last Comanche Moon and The Last Wild White Buffalo, The Old Cantina is another song by Mike Blakely that members of the Western Writers of America chose as one of the Top 100 Western songs of all time.

About Mike Blakely

Since 1993, Blakely has been writing Western fiction. Around eighteen of his novels are currently in print. Willie Nelson and Kenny Rogers are co-writers for the two novels of Blakley.

Summer of Pearls won the 2000 Spur Award for Best Western Novel from Western Writers of America, and two others were nominated for the award. Four of his novels consist of an untitled Western legend have been compared to Louis L’Amour’s work.

As a performer, Mike Blakely has traveled extensively with himself and his band and has made 16 tours in Europe. He usually performs at festivals, house concerts, and private parties, most of them in Texas. He holds monthly concerts on his farm near Llano and has released eleven CDs on his label that features most of his songs.

Artists Who Recorded The Songs of Blakely

Some artists recorded the songs of Blakely including:

• Johnny Bush
• Flaco Jiménez
• Raul Malo
• Gary P. Nunn
• Johnny Rodriguez
• Red Steagall

Listen to The Old Cantina (Mike Blakely Version)

The Old Cantina Lyrics

Just a stone's throw from the old cantina
I can hear the music play, all alone in my room
While I'm dreamin' of a señorita
I live just a stone's throw away from the old cantina
 
Mi hermano owned la casa, but he moved back to Oaxaca
And he gave-a me this poca cabina
And he said I wouldn't like it,
'Cause they make a grande racket
 
Cada noche at the old cantina
And I don't get mucho sueño, but I think it's muy bueno
'Cause I like to chase the señoritas
In la lengua de los gringos,
 
I live just a stone's throw from the old cantina
Just a stone's throw from the old cantina
Don't ask me how I know it
I'll pick up a rock and throw it and you'll see
 
Just a stone's throw from the old cantina
Estoy viviendo, only just a stone's throw
From the old cantina
Well, I don't buy any drinks, I wash the dishes in the sink
 
And I sack up every day's basura
And I like the cocinera, she's a very good mujer
Because she always gives me free chalupas
Yo no soy un trabajero, necesito no dinero
 
I laugh and drink the free tequila
And maybe some añejo, 'cause
I live just a stone's throw from the old cantina
Just a stone's throw from the old cantina
 
Don't ask me how I know it
I'll pick up a rock and throw it and you'll see
It's just a stone's throw from the old cantina
Estoy viviendo, only just a stone's throw from the old cantina
 
One night I got too macho and I got too much borracho
I tried to kiss the señorita
She ran me out la puerta, p'alla a la izquierda
All the way back to my own cabina
 
Then she threw a big piedra, hit me right in mi cabeza
And I fell right down on mis rodillas
And that's the way that I know
That I live just a stone's throw from the old cantina
 
Just a stone's throw from the old cantina
Don't ask her how she knows it
She picks up a rock and throws it and you'll see
It's a stone's throw from the old cantina
 
Estoy viviendo, only just a stone's throw
From the old cantina
Estoy a viviendo solo just a stone's throw
From the old cantina...!