Mexicali Blues

Lyrics By: Bob Weir Music By: John Barlow

Laid back in an old saloon, with a peso in my hand Watching flies and children on the street And I catch a glimpse of black-eyed girls who giggle when I smile There's a little boy that wants to shine my feet And it's three days ride from Bakersfield And I don't know why I came I guess I came to keep from payin' dues So instead I've got a bottle and a girl who's just fourteen And a damned good case of the Mexicali blues

Is there anything a man don't stand to lose When the devil wants to take it all away Cherish well your thoughts, keep a tight grip on your booze 'Cause thinking and drinking are all I have today

She said her name was Billie Jean and she was fresh in town I didn't know her stage-line ran from hell She had raven hair, a ruffled dress, a necklace made of gold And all the French perfume you'd care to smell She took me up in to her room and whispered in my ear Go on my friend, do anything you choose Now I'm payin' for those happy hours I spent there in her arms With a lifetime's worth of the Mexicali blues

And then a man rode in to town, some thought he was the law Billie Jean was waiting when he came She told me he would take her if I didn't use my gun And I'd have no one but myself to blame I went down to those dusty streets, blood was on my mind I guess that stranger hadn't heard the news 'Cause I shot first and killed him, Lord he didn't even draw And he made me trade the gallows for the Mexicali blues

Is there anything a man don't stand to lose When he lets a woman hold him in her hands You just might find yourself out there on horseback in the dark Just riding and running across those desert sands