Mexicali Blues Lyrics - Skeletons In The Closet: The Best Of The Grateful Dead - Grateful Dead

Laid back in an old saloon, with a peso in my hand 

Watchin' 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 who 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 damn good case of the Mexicali Blues Yeh 

Is there anything a man don't stand to lose 

When the devil wants to take it all away? 

Cherish well your thoughts, and keep a tight grip on your booze 

'Cause thinkin' and drinkin' are all I have today 

She said her name was Billy Jean and she was fresh in town 

I didn't know a stage line ran from hell 

She had raven hair, a ruffled dress, a necklace made of gold 

All the french perfume you'd care to smell 

She took me up into 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, yeh 

Is there anything a man don't stand to lose 

When the devil wants to take it all away? 

Cherish well your thoughts, and keep a tight grip on your booze 

'Cause thinkin' and drinkin' are all I have today 

And then a man rode into town, some thought he was the law 

Billy Jean was waitin' when he came 

She told me he would take her, if I didn't use my gun 

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,yeh 

Is there anything a man don't stand to lose 

When he lets a woman hold him in her hands? 

He just might find himself out there on horseback in the dark 

Just ridin' and runnin' across those desert sands