When Mexico Gave Up the Rhumba
(To Do the Rock and Roll)
Composer(s): Gale Jones
Performer(s): Mitchell Torok



Down in Mexico, at each high noon
Siesta is the thing
You can find me sleepin' out in the shade
While the birds softly sing
But from the radio, there comes a U.S. show
And the disc-jockey's playin' the blues
Before they know what's happened
They're up and clappin'
To the tune of the blue suede shoes

One, two, and then rock
It's the funniest thing ever told
The day that Mexico gave up the rhumba
To do the rock and roll

In the middle of town, the pecker bullring stands
It reaches to the sky
Inside's a matador, he's got his sword in hand
And a bull is fixing to die
But from the phonograph, there comes a frantic sound
And the sword drops from his hands
The bull begins to dance, around in the dust
To the beat of a picker brass band

One, two, and then rock
It's the funniest thing ever told
The day that Mexico gave up the rhumba
To do the rock and roll

In the summertime, the tourists come
Expecting to see the scenes
Of the quiet places and the quiet faces
They read of in magazines
But in their amazement, when they find this craze
Is not in the U.S. alone
They used to dance `neath the stars to the Spanish guitars
But now they do it to a saxophone

One, two, and then rock
It's the funniest thing ever told
The day that Mexico gave up the rhumba
To do the rock and roll