Songs About New Mexico: Santa Fe
written and performed by Jon Bon Jovi (1990)
“Santa Fe” is the 5th track on the album Blaze of Glory, Jon Bon Jovi’s debut solo studio album, released in 1990. It includes songs from and inspired by the movie Young Guns II. Emilio Estevez asked for Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” as the theme song for his upcoming Billy the Kid sequel, but Jon Bon Jovi ended up composing an all-new theme song for the film’s soundtrack instead. The album featured guests such as Elton John, Little Richard, and Jeff Beck. Blaze of Glory was awarded a Golden Globe. It also received Academy Award and Grammy nominations. The album peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart. Bon Jovi’s lyrics from the song “Santa Fe” are quoted in the 1998 book, About a Boy, although the author, Nick Hornby, would have been light-heartedly referring to John Donne’s “No Man Is an Island”. The song is also quoted in the film High Fidelity.
Bon Jovi’s song “Santa Fe” was suggested for inclusion in our Songs About New Mexico list by Chris Romero. Thank you, Chris!
Lyrics
They say that no man is an island
And good things come to those who wait
The things are here or there just to remind me
Every dog will have his day
I watched them infiltrate my soul
They try to say it’s too late for me
Tell my guns I’m coming home
I swear I’m gonna live forever
Tell my maker he can wait
I’m riding somewhere south of heaven
Heading back to Santa Fe
It’s judgment day in Santa Fe
Once I was promised absolution
There’s only one solution for my sins
You gotta face your ghosts and know
With no illusions
That only one of you is going home again
And I blame this world for making
A good man evil
It’s this world that can drive a
Good man mad
And it’s this world that turns a killer
Into a hero
Well I blame this world for making
A good man bad
Now I ain’t getting into heaven
If the devil has his way
I swear I’m gonna live forever
Heading back to Santa Fe
Got debts to pay in Santa Fe
It’s judgment day in Santa Fe
(oh lord have mercy)
So I save a prayer
When I need it most
To the Father, Son
And the Holy Ghost
And I’ll sign it from a sinner
With no name
When I meet my maker
Will he close the book
On the hearts I broke
And the lives I took
Will he walk away
‘Cause my soul’s
It’s too late to save
Now I ain’t getting into heaven
If the devil has his way
I swear I’m gonna live forever
Heading back to Santa Fe
Got debts to pay in Santa Fe
It’s judgment day in Santa Fe
Songwriter: Jon Bon Jovi
Santa Fe lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
for more information: bonjovi.com
source: wikipedia.org