Through the 16th and 17th centuries, European explorers searched for a legendary (mythical) "City Of Gold" - El Dorado - in the New World ... (see below links to learn more)

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/archaeology-and-history/archaeology/el-dorado/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Dorado

In 1849, Edgar Allan Poe published a poem about the search for El Dorado.
I will post that below...

In 1979, The Philadelphia Inquirer published a 2-page story about an all-night diner in the bowels of downtown Philly... and the cast of characters that found their way there in the wee hours of the morning. The El Dorado Diner. (I tried, but could not find an archve of the story).


I combined it all into a song (a rather long one - there was a lot to tell).
There are references to the Poe poem - which you will only "get" by reading the poem (the post below this - it's quite short).
Most of the characters in the song came from the Philadelphia Inquirer article.

Telling the story (singing the song) with just an acoustic guitar is "okay", but lacks something...
That "something" is now available (to me... to us), by the magic that is provided by Band-In-A-Box.
May the golden gods bless everyone at PG Music for giving us this incredible gift!!!


EL DORADO

he stops in the door til he's noticed
shouts that he's journeyed long
from somewhere in space
but they all know his face
old man, quit putting us on

the food and the coffee are cheap here
so the talk fits in just fine
spaceman orders pot roast
potatoes and gravy
gets the coffee for his panhandled dimes

   your search for el dorado
   is coming to a close
   the city is cold
   where shadows unfold
   to reveal what the gallant night knows

they drink their filled of what they can afford
then flock to the el dorado
the bars have all closed
each of them knows
there's no other place he can go

the sign in the window invites "tables for ladies"
but no lady would ever come near
so they provide their own company
talk to themselves
or to the shadows that directed them here

   your search for el dorado
   is coming to a close
   the city is cold
   where shadows unfold
   to reveal what the gallant night knows

the general talks of the big war
he bought his bravery from a man down the street
a pawn shop hero
battling beer
oh, too often he falls in defeat

joseph is a prophet of doom
the stock market will crash, wait and see
so jimmy gave his savings
for holy cross in the seventh
doc gives them opinions for free

   your search for el dorado
   is coming to a close
   the city is cold
   where shadows unfold
   to reveal what the gallant night knows

swaying to the jukebox while doc sing along
JP serves his ghetto gourmets
a spatula for his septor
a crew cut for his crown
his kingdom, this all-night cafe

jimmy and the general dream of winning
the spaceman and the prophet watch the door
JP and the ladies
who never come near
dance one final waltz 'round the floor

   your search for el dorado
   is coming to a close
   the city is cold
   where shadows unfold
   to reveal what the gallant night knows
   the gallant night knows





The Golden BAND:

Style is _JBALADP.STY (Jazz Ballad with Piano (85 RS))

RealTracks in style: ~481:Bass, Acoustic, Jazz Ballad Sw 085
RealTracks in style: ~487:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm Jazz Ballad Sw 085
RealTracks in song: ~750:Sax, Tenor, Soloist Jazz Ballad Sw 060
RealDrums in style: JazzTerryClarke^02-a,b:Brushes



I hope you enjoy the journey.
The search continues...

floyd

150+ Songs produced using BIAB RealTracks
And 50 more...
and some more...