MARIA ELENA
(Lorenzo Barcelata / Sidney Keith "Bob" Russell)

Jimmy Dorsey & His Orch. (vocal: Bob Eberly) -1941
Wayne King & His Orch. - 1941
Tony Pastor & His Orch. (vocal: Dorsey Anderson) - 1941
Lawrence Welk & His Orch. - 1941
Harry James & His Orch. (vocal: Dick Haymes) - 1941
Gene Krupa & His Orch. (vocal: Roy Eldridge) - 1941
Jan Garber & His Orch. - 1941
Joe Loss & His Orch. - 1941

Also recorded by:
Jim Reeves; Marty Robbins; Nat King Cole; Gene Autry;
Bing Crosby; The Ventures; Don Gibson; Michael Bublé;
Mantovani; Gary Miller; The Platters; Bert Kaempfert;
Chet Atkins; The Shadows; Percy Faith; The Flamingos;
Jerry Vale; Neil Sedaka; Hank Snow; The Moms & Dads;
Slim Whitman; Edmundo Ros; ......... and many others.


Like minutes are to an hour
Darling, so you are to me...

Maria Elena, you're the answer to a prayer
Maria Elena, can't you see how much I care?
To me your voice is like the echo of a sigh
And when you're near my heart can't speak above a sigh

Maria Elena, say that we will never part
Maria Elena, take me to your heart
A love like mine is great enough for two
To share this love is really all I ask of you

(Orchestral Interlude)

Maria Elena, say that we will never part
Maria Elena, take me to your heart
A love like mine is great enough for two
To share this love is really all I ask of you


*****


The original words and music were written in praise of the
First Lady of the then president of Mexico, Mrs Pontes Gil,
by Lorenzo Barcelata in 1940:


Tuyo es mi corazón
Oh sol de mi querer
Mujer de mi ilusión
Mi amor te con sagré
Mi vida da la embellece una esperanza azul
Mi vida tiene un cielo que le diste tu
Tuyo es mi corazón
Oh sol de mi querer
Tuyo es todo mi ser tuyo es mujer
Yo todo el corazón te lo entregué
Eres mi fé, eres mi Dios, eres mi amor


(Contributed by Bill Huntley - December 2004)