# # #----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------# This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the # song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. # #------------------------------------------------------------------------------## Date: Tue, 5 Dec 1995 11:47:12 -0500 (EST) From: Steve Comeau Subject: Mexical Blues, Grateful Dead - Chords # #Also, many thanks for maintaining OLGA. I've used it many times. This #is my first submission and I hope to send more. # Mexicali Blues, Grateful Dead # A G B Em Layin' back in an old saloon with a peso in my hand A D Watchin' flies and children on the street A G B Em And I catch a glimpse of black-eyed girls who giggle when I smile A D There's a little boy who wants to shine my feet G B Em And it's three days ride from Bakersfield and I don't know why I came A D I guess I came to keep from payin' dues G B Em But instead I've got a bottle and a girl who's just fourteen A And a damn good case of the Mexicali Blues, yeah D Is there anything a man don't stand to lose A When the devil wants to take it all away? Cherish well your thoughts, keep a tight grip on your booze G A (open) 'Cuz thinkin' and drinkin' are all I have today. A G B Em She said her name was Billie Jean; she was fresh in town A D I didn't know a stage line ran from hell A G B She had raven hair, a ruffled dress, a necklace made of gold A D All the french perfume you'd care to smell G B Em She took me up into her room and whispered in my ear A D Go on my friend do anything you choose. G B Em Now I'm paying for those happy hours I spent there in her arms A D With a lifetime case of the Mexicali Blues, yeah. D Is there anything a man don't stand to lose A When the devil wants to take it all away? Cherish well your thoughts, keep a tight grip on your booze G A (open) 'Cuz thinkin' and drinkin' are all I have today. A G B Em Then a man rode into town; some thought he was the law A D Billie Jean was bathing when he came A G B Em She told me he would take her if I didn't use my gun A D And I'd have no one but myself to blame G B Em I went down to those dusty streets; love was on my mind A D I guess that stranger hadn't heard the news. G B Em "Cuz I shot first and killed him. Lord he didn't even draw. A D And he made me trade the gallows for the Mexicali Blues. D Is there anything a man don't stand to lose A When he lets a woman hold him in her hand? You just might find yourself out there on horseback in the dark G(open) A Just ridin' and runnin' across those desert sands. Notes: I use a strum with a lot of alternating bass - usually 4th and 5th strings - for the A and D chords. However, I find that the strumming patterns vary greatly throughout the song. Play along with the record to get the right feel. I fake the trumpet intro with D chord forms using D, Dsus4 and D9. The G-B-Em chord progression in some verses sounds best as single emphasized strums synchronized to the words (e.g. some THOUGHT he WAS the LAW). D Dsus4 D9 G(open) EADGBe EADGBe EADGBe EADGBe xxx232 xxx233 xxx23x 32xxx3 A G B Em EADGBe EADGBe EADGBe EADGBe xx222x 355433 224442 x22xxx -- Steve Comeau scomeau@cnct.com