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"The Lonely Bull"
Music by Herb Alpert & Sol Lake
Lyrics by Jan Erickson
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Open with bullfight fanfare
Musical interlude (Verse)
Past the puerta I hear the men, a paseo begins on the sand
Cheering comes from a standing crowd, they cheer so loud death is at hand
I will face Carlos in the sun, though only one will walk away
He will tremble beneath my power, in the chosen hour of this day
Bridge
The Plaza de Toros, I walk alone
All eyes are toward me, the corrida's begun
From a barrera there step three men, capa waving when I look their way
I run to catch them they don't stand still, they test my will as they play
Musical interlude (Verse or bridge)
Picador on a blinded horse, shows no remorse as I grow weak
Bandarillos wave stinging sticks, dancing magic tricks with their feet
Carlos taunts me in a suit of light, I am black as night and I must win
Drive him back with ferocity, then they'll set me free once again
Bridge
A swirling muleta, to hypnotize
I cannot restist it, there's no reason why
Carlos lunges with a blade of steel, the deadly sting I feel deep inside
Falling there on the blood soaked sand, I cannot stand though I try
Musical interlude (Verse)
Bridge
The crowd fades so quickly, dim go my eyes
Pain no longer is with me, what's this, do I fly?
The arroyo where my days were free, now seems to be where I lay
Corrida's over now I have won, in the summer sun I will stay
Musical interlude & finish
Copyrights (c) Jan Erickson 2003 Lyrics and arrangement
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Today (2-2-05) I joined the A&M Corner Forum. It's a discussion group about A&M Records, Herb Alpert, Tijuana Brass, ect. I was trying to find a way to provide Mr. Alpert with a copy of my lyrics and possibly get a reaction. My first response came from Mr. Mike Blakesley of Forsyth, Montana. He suggested I share them on the A&M Corner Forum. I thought it would be just as good if I put them here then direct those interested, to this site.
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During 1962 when "The Lonely Bull" was recorded by Herb Alpert, I was moving from high school freshman into my sophomore year. By February 1963 the song had hit #10 on the music charts
Those days were spent as a carefree young boy listening to the radio. The distant, lonely sound of Herb Alpert performing The Lonely Bull, imprinted the haunting melody on my soul.
1963 was the year I took notice of one special girl at school. Following graduation, I eventually gained the courage to date her a few times. During that period, "The Lonely Bull" was getting a lot of air play on our local radio stations. A few years later when I was told that the girl had recently married, the melody returned to me with even more emotional impact.
During the summer of 1964, my family and I traveled to southern California and Tijuana, Mexico. We spent a Sunday afternoon in Tijuana at the Plaza de Toros watching six bulls fight to their demise. I'm not bothered by the fact that animals are butchered and used as a source for food or materials, but that afternoon at the bullfights was quite unpleasant for me.
The Carlos mentioned in my song is Carlos Arruza (Carlos Ruiz Camino / b. 2-17-20 / d. 5-20-66), one of the most famous of the Mexican bullfighters. In researching facts to write these lyrics, his name was prominent among other bullfighters.
"The Lonely Bull" has stayed with me all my life since first hearing it. I would find myself whistling or humming the melody subconsciously. I am not an accomplished lead instrument player, but I have ability as a backup/rhythm guitarist. I also sing, and so my voice is my lead instrument. I finally became tired of whistling the melody while playing my guitar, so in May of 2003 I took the time to write the above lyrics.
Although I have recorded this song in my own studio, it was only done for my personal enjoyment. Due to legalities and royalties and on and on, I will probably never release my version as a commercial track. I will on occasion offer it to a select group of friends and family at no cost.
In the last bridge and verse, the lyrics reveal my religous belief of an after life. I hope anyone that reads or sings these words will feel some sense of the melancholy which I have experienced whenever hearing or performing this song.
My thanks to Herb Alpert and Sol Lake, for the memories their song has provided.
Jan
p.s.
2-2-05 3:50pm mst. I just went back and read another reply on the A&M Corner Forum and learned that lyrics had been published prior to mine. I'm glad I didn't know about them or I probably would not have written my version.
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| Photo by John Kalucki at www.quovadimus.org |
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