Laura Branigan's song Spanish Eddie...Who is Eddie?

Question

I've listened to that song more than a few times and can not figure out who this spanish Eddie is. Anyone able to make since out of this for me?

Answer 1

Well ... here are the lyrics:

Spanish Eddie
Laura Branigan

There was heat in the air
And cops everywhere you looked
So there wasn't a lot
And the breaks that you got You know you took
And I remember wonderin' Where you been
The night Spanish Eddie cashed it in
The night Spanish Eddie cashed it in
They were playin' "Desolation Row" On the radio
The night Spanish Eddie fell from grace
There was amazement on his face
On the night that Eddie failed Sanity prevailed
It was June or July
When the heat from above beat down
It was famine or drought
When the brothers went out Of syle uptown
And we was mixin' Vicks with lemon gin
The night Spanish Eddie cashed it in
The night Spanish Eddie cashed it in
They were playin "Desolation Row" On the radio
The night Spanish Eddie made front page
His revolution came of age
He wrote "Surrender" on the wall
The night he took the fall
I heard someone say "He's tryin' to fly"
Like Eddie used to say We'll do when we die
I know someone turned you For a spin
The night Spanish Eddie cashed it in
The night Spanish Eddie cashed it in
They were playin' "Desolation Row" On the radio

Okay ... now this blog discusses the subject (snippet below):
http://www.myllyrdfyllmore.com/

"Spanish Eddie" is a song that makes no sense. It is never clear who Spanish Eddie is, and why he is identified as Spanish. The euphemism "cashed it in" is likewise left ambiguous. Why, when Eddie failed, did sanity prevail? Mixing Vicks with lemon gin may be an excuse, but it is not an explanation. The video is no help whatsoever, unless we are to suppose that Spanish Eddie is an aerobics instructor.

Another website muses:
http://www.discomuseum.com/LauraBranigan.html
"Spanish Eddie" was an uptempo number with an odd street-life lyric that made reference to Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row."

Basically I think everyone is just about as clueless as we are. And, unfortunately, since Laura Brannigan passed away in 2004, we'll probably never get an explanation.

Answer 2

Self Control Favorite Video too.