Mexicali Blues (Live at Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR, May 19, 1974)

Lyrics

[Verse 1] 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 that 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 paying dues So instead I've got a bottle and a girl that's just fourteen And a damn good case of the Mexicali Blues, yeah [Chorus] 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 [Verse 2] She said her name was Billie 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 full 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, yeah [Chorus] 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 [Instrumental Break] [Verse 3] Then a man rode into town, some thought he was the law Billie Jean was waiting when he came 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, oh Lord, he didn't even draw And now I spend my lifetime running with the Mexicali Blues, yeah [Outro] 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, yeah Thank you