South Coast lyrics

Song information

Artist: Kingston Trio
Album: Stereo Concert Plus

Lyrics

Chorus:
South coast, the wild coast, is lonely. you may win at a game at jolon
But the lion still rules the barranca, and a man there is always alone

My name is juan hano de castro. my father was a spanish grandee
But I won my wife in a card game, to hell with the lords o'er the sea

I picked up the ace. I had won her! my heart, which was down at my feet
Jumped up to my throat in a hurry--like a warm summer's day, she was sweet
(Chorus)

Her arms had to tighten around me as we rode up the hills from the south
Not a word did I hear from her that day, or a kiss from her pretty red mouth

We came to my cabin at twilight. the stars twinkled out on the coast
She soon loved the valley, the orchard--but I knew that she loved me the most
(Chorus)

Then I got hurt in a landslide, with crushed hip and twice-broken bone
She saddled our pony like lightning, rode off in the night, all alone

The lion screamed in the barranca; the pony fell back on the slide
My young wife lay dead in the moonlight. my heart died that night with my
Bride
(Chorus)
Daughters were possessions, to be bet away or arranged marriages for; also, note
The use of "young wife" in the final stanza. her shyness- "had to tighten"-
And her silent reticence but adaptable "soon loved..." indicates no previous
Marriage
And "lost his daughter to me" indicates her origin, whereas "to hell with
The lords o'er the sea" seems thrown in. if this man were a sailor, why would
He have established orchards?

Just a thought. I'd really like to see the original music if it were available
The concept of betting away a daughter was my first exposure to the concept of
Women as property and the sung stuck with me my whole life. (i was the oldest
And
Only daughter and I was afraid of the possibility; I was 9 and the chorus
Except
For one word, and the storyline, and the tune have stayed with me for the last
25 years; it influenced my major "women's studies")

[from http://lyrics.doheth.co.uk]

"Stereo Concert Plus" album track list