It starts with the simple rhythm of a Spanish flavored polka corrido (thanks, MaryK), and it's enjoined with vocal harmonies that evoke tumbleweeds blown through the desert while coyotes communicate from atop the buttes. It tells the tragic story of a love triangle, a gunfight, a flight for life. If El Paso isn't considered a true American classic, I don't know what could be considered as such.

FYI our sister site Newstalgia has over eighty minutes of The Smiths live in concert for your listening pleasure.