This week for Song Lyric Sunday we are asked to feature a song that involves a family member. This was the first idea that popped into my head. I had to check that I hadn’t used it before, and happily I haven’t.
A staple of Grateful Dead live shows throughout their career, this bouncy little ditty usually featured in what I think of as the ‘cowboy’ section of their shows, although it did once somehow find its way into the middle of a very long and spacy ‘Dark Star’ jam. I particularly remember the first time I heard it because of the surprise twist in the tail.
Me and my uncle went ridin’ down
South Colorado, West Texas bound
We stopped over in Santa Fe
That bein’ the point just about half way
And you know it was the hottest part of the day
I took the horses up to the stall
Went to the barroom, ordered drinks for all
Three days in the saddle, you know my body hurt
It bein’ summer, I took off my shirt
And I tried to wash off some of that dusty dirt
West Texas cowboys, they’s all around
With liquor and money, they’re loaded down
So soon after payday, know it seemed a shame
You know my uncle, he starts a friendly game
High-low jack and the winner take the hand
My uncle starts winnin’; cowboys got sore
One of them called him, and then two more
Accused him of cheating; oh no, it couldn’t be
I know my uncle, he’s as honest as me
And I’m as honest as a Denver man can be
One of them cowboys, he starts to draw
And I shot him down, Lord he never saw
Shot me another, oh damn he won’t grow old
In the confusion, my uncle grabbed the gold
And we high-tailed it down to Mexico
I love those cowboys, I love their gold
I loved my uncle, God rest his soul
Taught me good, Lord, taught me all I know
Taught me so well, I grabbed that gold
And I left his dead ass there by the side of the road
Written by John Phillips
the only deadhead in the hameau 
Nice choice, great video. John Phillips said that he began receiving publishing royalties from a song on a Judy Collins record with which he was unfamiliar. It was titled ‘Me And My Uncle’ and he called Judy to let her know of the mistake because he hadn’t written any such song. She laughed and told him that he did about a year before, in Arizona after one of her concerts, as they had a tequila-soaked haze night back at the hotel with Stephen Stills, Neil Young and a few others. They were running a blank cassette and John proceeded to write ‘Me And My Uncle’ on the spot. The next day, John woke up to the tequila sunrise with no recollection of writing this song. Judy kept the cassette from that evening and then, without informing John, she recorded a slower version of the song for her own record.
thanks for that intriguing back story, Jim. I had no idea…
Cool choice, DH
Oh! I do like the short ones (songs I mean) 🙂
I don’t know why this song was always a favorite of mine, but it still is!