Mexicali Blues (song)
Encyclopedia
"Mexicali Blues" is a song from Bob Weir
's 1972 Ace
solo album that, like the rest of the material on that record, was de facto by the Grateful Dead
. Indeed it appears on the 1974 Skeletons from the Closet: The Best of Grateful Dead
compilation.
"Mexicali Blues" was written by Bob Weir and lyricist John Perry Barlow
. This was the first songwriting collaboration for Weir and Barlow. Barlow has noted that Weir had an idea for a "cowboy
song" and asked Barlow to write the lyrics after Robert Hunter
declined. Weir would soon switch to using Barlow rather than Hunter for the bulk of his songwriting.
The song, as with many Grateful Dead songs, can be viewed on more than one level. It concerns a man who meets a girl, falls under her spell, then shoots and kills a stranger when she tells him that unless he uses his gun to prevent it the stranger will take her away. He flees into the desert rather than face hanging for his crime.
Bob Weir
Bob Weir is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist, most recognized as a founding member of the Grateful Dead. After the Grateful Dead disbanded in 1995, Weir performed with The Other Ones, later known as The Dead, together with other former members of the Grateful Dead...
's 1972 Ace
Ace (Bob Weir album)
Ace was the first solo album by Grateful Dead rhythm guitarist Bob Weir, released in 1972.Its origins come from an offer by the Dead's Warner Bros. Records label to have band members cut their own solo records, and came out at the same time as Jerry Garcia's Garcia and Mickey Hart's Rolling Thunder...
solo album that, like the rest of the material on that record, was de facto by the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
. Indeed it appears on the 1974 Skeletons from the Closet: The Best of Grateful Dead
Skeletons from the Closet: The Best of Grateful Dead
Skeletons from the Closet: The Best of Grateful Dead was the first compilation album from the Grateful Dead. It was first released on LP in February 1974. The release was a ploy for Warner Bros...
compilation.
"Mexicali Blues" was written by Bob Weir and lyricist John Perry Barlow
John Perry Barlow
John Perry Barlow is an American poet and essayist, a retired Wyoming cattle rancher, and a cyberlibertarian political activist who has been associated with both the Democratic and Republican parties. He is also a former lyricist for the Grateful Dead and a founding member of the Electronic...
. This was the first songwriting collaboration for Weir and Barlow. Barlow has noted that Weir had an idea for a "cowboy
Cowboy
A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the vaquero traditions of northern Mexico and became a figure of...
song" and asked Barlow to write the lyrics after Robert Hunter
Robert Hunter (lyricist)
Robert C. Hunter is an American lyricist, singer-songwriter, translator, and poet, best known for his association with Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead.-Biography:He was born Robert Burns in San Luis Obispo, California...
declined. Weir would soon switch to using Barlow rather than Hunter for the bulk of his songwriting.
The song, as with many Grateful Dead songs, can be viewed on more than one level. It concerns a man who meets a girl, falls under her spell, then shoots and kills a stranger when she tells him that unless he uses his gun to prevent it the stranger will take her away. He flees into the desert rather than face hanging for his crime.