Rhiannon Hendricks
Gringo Honeymoon is a song by Texas-based country and folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, released in 1994. The song is about a visit to Boquillas del Carmen, a small Mexican village along the banks of the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park. The lyrics describe a journey across the river to the village, where the narrator and their partner rent donkeys, drink in bars, and enjoy the local music. The song has become somewhat of a legend in Texas and is known for its accuracy in depicting the village, which has since been devastated by the indefinite closure of the unofficial border crossing.
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What You'll Learn
Robert Earl Keen's 1994 album
Gringo Honeymoon is an album by Texas-based country and folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen, released in the United States in August 1994 on Sugar Hill Records. The title track tells the story of Keen and his wife crossing the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park, Texas, to visit the small Mexican town of Boquillas del Carmen in the state of Coahuila. All the tracks on the album were written by Keen himself.
The song "Gringo Honeymoon" is about a visit to Boquillas del Carmen, a small Mexican village along the banks of the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park. In the late 1990s, Boquillas del Carmen was a small town with around 300 residents, featuring a bar, restaurant, taco stands, and children selling rocks collected from the desert or nearby caves. The song describes an unofficial border crossing, where a man operated a rowboat to transport tourists across the river. This crossing has since been closed indefinitely, impacting the village's population and economy.
The album Gringo Honeymoon is not Keen's first foray into the music industry. He debuted in 1984 with his first album, 'No Kinda Dancer', and has since recorded 20 full-length albums for independent and major record labels. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Keen developed a passion for music at a young age, influenced by country artists such as Willie Nelson and Gary Stewart. After learning to play the guitar, he began performing in nightclubs and live music venues in Austin, Texas, and won the New Folk competition at the Kerrville Folk Festival in 1983.
Keen's music career has spanned several decades, and he has toured extensively in the US and abroad. In January 2022, he announced his retirement from touring and performing, naming his final tour the "I'm Coming Home Farewell Tour". However, he later resumed performing and continues to create music, with plans for a tour in 2024.
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The song's lyrics
"Gringo Honeymoon" is a song by Texas-based country and folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen. The song was released in 1994 as the title track of the album "Gringo Honeymoon". The song's lyrics tell the story of Keen and his wife's journey across the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park, Texas, to visit the small Mexican village of Boquillas del Carmen.
The song paints a vivid picture of the couple's adventure, starting with them standing on a mountain top, admiring the cactus flowers and wishing for time to stop. They then take a rowboat across the Rio Grande, guided by Captain Pablo, who rows them to the other side for just two dollars.
Once they reach the other side, they step out onto the golden sand, with the sun beating down on them. They rent donkeys from an old blind man and ride them into town, tying their donkeys to an ironwood tree by a stream where children are playing. They find a place to have a cold beer in the shade, and the song describes the freedom and joy of their ""gringo honeymoon".
The song continues with the couple meeting a cowboy who is running from the DEA and a crusty caballero who plays an old gut-string guitar and sings like Marty Robbins. The couple sings and drinks like there's no tomorrow, celebrating their gringo honeymoon and savouring the moment.
The lyrics of "Gringo Honeymoon" capture the essence of a carefree and spontaneous journey, filled with unique characters and memorable experiences. The song has become a legend in Texas and is known for its accuracy in depicting the small Mexican village of Boquillas del Carmen, which has since been devastated by the indefinite closure of the unofficial border crossing.
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The village of Boquillas del Carmen
The village holds a legendary status in Texas due to its association with the song "Gringo Honeymoon" by Robert Earl Keen, Jr. The song recounts a visit to Boquillas del Carmen and includes details such as crossing the Rio Grande by rowboat, guided by Captain Pablo, and celebrating in the town's bar. The lyrics paint a picture of a carefree and adventurous trip, capturing the essence of a "gringo honeymoon."
The journey to Boquillas del Carmen is described as an epic trip, involving hiking and navigating false starts and wrong turns. The village is situated on the Mexican side of the river, and upon arrival, one is met with a sense of timelessness, as if time had stopped somewhere between the Roaring Twenties and World War II. The river transport consists of a small, faded jon boat, adding to the charm of the experience.
The first commercial stop in Boquillas is a wind-ravaged gift shop, filled with trinkets and treasures. The village also has an unofficial mayor or sheriff, Danny Hickle or Hinkle, who is a legendary figure in the community. The song "Gringo Honeymoon" accurately depicts the village and its offerings, including the rowboat crossing, the bar, and the overall atmosphere of celebration and enjoyment.
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![Gringo [DVD]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81DgTfdJdKL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
The Rio Grande
In the song, Keen and his companion take a rowboat across the Rio Grande, guided by Captain Pablo, who rows them to the other side for two dollars. They arrive on golden sand, where they rent donkeys from an old blind man and ride into town. The town is described as a place where time stands still, somewhere between the Roaring Twenties and World War II. It has a bar, a restaurant, taco stands, and children selling rocks collected from the desert or nearby caves.
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The legend of the song
"Gringo Honeymoon" is a song by Texas-based country and folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen. It was released in 1994 on Sugar Hill Records. The song is about a visit to Boquillas del Carmen, a small Mexican village along the banks of the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park.
In the song, Keen paints a picture of a trip to Mexico with his love, including experiences such as crossing the river, meeting a DEA fugitive, and visiting a bar with a singer who sounded like Marty Robbins. The lyrics mention renting donkeys from an old blind man and riding them into town, tying the donkeys to an ironwood tree, and drinking cold beer in the shade. The song also references a mountain top where cactus flowers grow and taking a rowboat across the river with Captain Pablo as their guide.
The song is known for its accuracy in depicting the village, including the man who operated a rowboat across the river for tourists. Keen was known to frequently visit Boquillas del Carmen, and the town holds a special place in his heart. The song captures the sense of adventure and freedom that comes with exploring new places and meeting unique characters along the way.
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Frequently asked questions
Gringo Honeymoon is an album by Texas-based country and folk singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen.
The album Gringo Honeymoon was written about Robert Earl Keen's visit to Boquillas del Carmen, a small Mexican village along the banks of the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park.
The song Gringo Honeymoon is about Robert Earl Keen and his wife crossing the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park, Texas, to visit the small Mexican town of Boquillas del Carmen.
Gringo Honeymoon is a vacation rental property in Concan, Texas, managed by Casa Rio.
