South of the border, down Mexico way,
That's where I fell in love when the stars above came out to play,
And now as I wander, my thoughts ever stray,
South of the border, down Mexico way!

She was a picture in ol' Spanish lace,
Just for a tender while I kissed the smile upon her face,
For it was "Fiesta" and we were so gay,
South of the border, down Mexico way!

Then she sighed as she whispered "Ma?ana"
Never dreamin' that we were partin',
And I lied as I whispered "Ma?ana"
For our tomorrow never came!

South of the border, I rode back one day,
There in a veil of white by candle-light she knelt to pray,
The mission bells told me that I mustn't stay,
South of the border, down Mexico way!
Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay! Ay!

Words and Music by Jimmy Kennedy
and Michael Carr, published 1939