A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Mexicali Blues by Grateful Dead - Guitar Chords

<< Back to Grateful Dead Song List
Version 1
            [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*
 EADGBe   EADGBe    EADGBe   EADGBe
 xxx232   xxx233    xxx23x   32xxx3

   A        G        B        Em
 EADGBe   EADGBe   EADGBe   EADGBe
 xx222x   355433   224442   x22xxx

[Verse 1]
A                                   C    B     Em
Layin' back in an old saloon with a peso in my hand
A                                  D
Watchin' flies and children on the street
      A                                       C      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

[Chorus]
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
'Cuz thinkin' and drinkin' are all I have today.

[Verse 2]
A                                  C       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                              C        B       Em
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.

[Chorus]
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
'Cuz thinkin' and drinkin' are all I have today.

[Verse 3]
A                               C          B       Em
Then a man rode into town; some thought he was the law
A                               D
Billie Jean was waiting when he came
    A                              C      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; blood 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.

[Chorus]
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*                 A
Just ridin' and runnin' across those desert sands.
We also have 91 songs by Grateful Dead

123GuitarChords.com Email: info@123GuitarChords.com