My Jalapeño Man

Words and music: Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Where to hear this song: Urban Tapestry MySpace page
Where to buy this song: Sushi and High Tea on CDBaby

Background behind this song:
I wanted to challenge myself by writing a song that wasn’t in my normal style, so decided to try a Spanish-type accompaniment (easy for me to say since I wasn’t playing guitar), and I wanted to write a food song. I wrote this with Jodi in mind for singing lead; her voice is made for torch songs, after all. — Debbie

Am G
My life used to be one of taste ennui
Dm7 E
Each meal was an unbearable bore
Am G
The boil-everything game was always the same
Dm7 E
Until a stranger moved in next door.

G F
He invited me over for dinner
G F
I brought wine: Chardonnay ‘91
E F
I was amazed at the size of his…kitchen
G F
But the evening had not yet begun.

G F
I watched him juggle his spices
G F
With a sure and expert ease
E F
“You’ve done this before”, I murmured -
G F
Melting weak at the knees.

G F
His gaze burned into mine, as he
G F
chopped chilies into the pot
E F
He said, “I’m going to cook you your food now
G E
and I hope you like it…HOT.”

CHORUS:
Am G
How he caressed, undressed, the onions,
Dm E
The way he used, abused, kim chee.
Am E
His jalapeño peppers were the best I’ve ever seen
Am
How he changed the world of dining, for me.

F E
I was nervous when we sat down at the table
F E
And I trembled as he put things on my plate
F E
But he calmed me down as well as he was able
F E
‘Till I smelled the food and began to salivate.

The first mouthful seared the lining of my throat
And it felt as though a fork was in my lung.
“It always hurts a bit in the beginning,”
he said, “And I see, you have a virgin tongue.”

REPEAT CHORUS:

By the second course my tongue had acclimated
I cried out for more and he happily complied
It was hours before the two of us were sated
I never felt so full, so satisfied!

It took me seven weeks to fully recover
And though he’s gone, I still feel a desire
For my luscious jalapeño lover
For none can match his culinary fire.

CHORUS: (same as before)
How he caressed, undressed, the onions
The way he used, abused, kim chee.
His jalapeño peppers were the best I’ve ever seen,
How he changed the world of dining,
……For me!