Songtext Mexicali blues Grateful Dead

Mexicali blues

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,
Theres a little boy who wants to shine my feet.

And its three days ride from bakersfield and I dont know why I came.
I guess I came to keep from payin dues.
So instead Ive got a bottle and a girl whos just fourteen,
And a damn good case of the mexicali blues. yeh!

Is there anything a man dont 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 didnt know a stage line ran from hell.
She had raven hair, a ruffled dress, a necklace made of gold,
All the french perfume youd care to smell.

She took me up into her room and whispered in my ear,
Go on, my friend, do anything you choose.
Now Im payin for those happy hours I spent there in her arms,
With a lifetimes worth of the mexicali blues.

Is there anything a man dont 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 didnt use my gun,
Id have no one but myself to blame.

I went down to those dusty streets, blood was on my mind.
I guess that stranger hadnt heard the news
Cause I shot first and killed him, lord, he didnt even draw
And he made me trade the gallows for the mexicali blues.

Is there anything a man dont 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.