Title song cracks me up
Well it does, SHALAKO, SHALAKO....
share'On his way down to Mexico...oh Shalako......Shalako..'
shareHaving nothing important to do this morning, I've completed this transcription from a recording of the title song I found on YouTube. I'm not quite certain about "potent", but after multiple re-listenings to that line, it's the best I can interpret from the singers' poor enunciation. If it is the word, they've shifted the accent to the second syllable to awkwardly fit into the metre of the line.
Shalako, Shalako,
He rode wild country down to Mexico
Born on the wind, to follow the sun
Potent with a knife, would gamble his life to own a woman!
Love came to Shalako, Shalako!
She called his name and wanted Shalako.
Biding his time, and planning to win
He loved for a day, then traveled his way
And the lady followed him
The one called Shalako, Shalako, Shalako!
Well, I've watched a recording of the film today and had the advantage of sub-titles. These aren't wholly reliable (at one point they rendered "Elena" as "Irina", which was very confusing), but they may have had sight of the original lyrics. And they didn't go with "potent" at all, they made the fourth line begin: "Fought death with a knife". Which does seem to make more sense.
Oh, and they reckoned "he rode wild country down New Mexico". I think that's more likely - I couldn't hear "to" in that line at all.
I was surprised to find that the lyrics were penned by Jim Dale, perhaps best known to British audiences for his many roles in the Carry On series.
Still, it's a catchy tune. Sha-la-ko!
Given your access to subtitles, I concur with your corrections to my transcription. In particular, 'fought death' makes much more sense than 'potent' and is undoubtedly correct. Our combined efforts have resulted in the clarification of an artistic puzzle!
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