"South of the Border" is a song by Engelbert Humperdinck that tells the story of a brief romance that takes place in Mexico. The narrator describes falling in love and experiencing the joy and excitement of a fiesta with a woman he met there. The lyrics mention a picture of the woman in old Spanish lace, and the narrator shares a tender moment of kissing her smile. As the song progresses, the narrator reveals that he and the woman had plans for the future, symbolized by her whispering "manana" (tomorrow). However, their plans were never realized as circumstances forced them apart. The narrator admits that he lied when he whispered "manana" back to her, knowing deep down that their tomorrow would never come. The song takes a nostalgic turn as the narrator reflects on his memories of the romance. He recalls a moment when he visited a mission and saw the woman praying there, dressed in a white veil by candlelight. The sound of the mission bells chiming reminded him that he couldn't stay, and he had to leave Mexico. Through its lyrics, "South of the Border" conveys the bittersweet emotions of love and loss. It explores the fleeting nature of relationships and the pain of unfulfilled promises. The song portrays the beauty and charm of Mexico as the backdrop for this brief, intense love affair, leaving the listener with a sense of longing and nostalgia.
