Album: Skull & Roses (1971)

License This Song 

• Me and my uncle went ridin' down
  To South Colorado, West Texas bound
  We stopped over in Santa Fe
  That day on the pony, just about halfway
  And you know it was the hottest part of the day
  
  And 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 being summer, I took off my shirt
  And I tried to wash off some of that dusty dirt
  
  West Texas cowboys, they was all around
  Wheat, liquor and money, they loaded down
  So soon after payday, no, it seemed a shame
  You know my uncle, he starts playin' the game
  Hey now, high-low jack and the winner take the hand
  
  My uncle start winning, the cowboys got sore
  One of them called him, and then two more
  Accused him of cheatin', oh no, it couldn't be
  I know my uncle, he's as honest as me
  Hey now, I'm as honest as a Denver man can be, that's right
  
  One of them cowboys, he starts to draw
  And I shot him down, Lord, he never saw
  Shot me another, hot damn, he won't grow old
  In the confusion, my uncle grabbed the gold
  And we hightail it down to Mexico
  
  Now I love those cowboys, I love their gold
  Love my uncle, God rest his soul
  Taught me good, Lord, taught me all I know
  Taught me so well, that I grabbed that gold
  I left his dead ass there by the side of the road, yeah Writer/s: John Phillips
  Publisher: Spirit Music Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

• Patrick from Bushnell, Floridato Barry from New York, I appreciate your skepticism but among artists, these things happen. Joe Ely tells how he wrote a song called Indian Cowboy after a show when he was in Oklahoma. He recorded it on a tape and went to bed. He says he forgot about it. Some time later, he said he was driving down I-35 in Austin with the radio on and he hear Guy Clark singing a song about an Indian Cowboy. He says, I really dug it. So I called Guy and said, Guy, that song Indian Cowboy. I love it. To which he said Guy replied, "You should, Joe. You wrote it."' Huh? His producer kept custody of the tape and when Guy was looking for a song to cover on an album he was recording the producer gave it to Guy. Clark liked it and recorded it. Now it is a regular at Joe Ely's shows, since he re-discovered it. These things happen.
• Derek from Livingston, MtTo Barry in New York: About your comment concerning Me And My Uncle not landing "onto an LP until 1971." This is incorrect. Dino Valenti recorded it on his LP, "Dino Valente" (sic) in 1968.
• Barry from New York, NcI just don't buy John Phillips' own account that he forgot that he wrote his own song. The song seems too intricate and complex for someone to write on the spot and forget about instantly. Probably John Phillips was just being modest.
• Karl from Fairfield, PaThis song was played live 605 times between 1966 and 1995 making it the Grateful Dead's most performed song.
• Barry from New York, NcThis song was included in the Dead's repetoir since 1966 but did not land onto an LP until 1971 when it was included on the GRATEFUL DEAD (Skull and Roses) album. It was doubtful that few in the audience actually knew the title of the song. At one 1970 concert, someone in the audience kept shouting for a tune called "West Texas Cowboy."
• Mike from Philadelphia, PaKevin from Reading, PA forgot about "Mexicali Blues" , a song that Weir co-wrote with best buddy John Perry Barlow.
• Kevin from Reading , PaDead co-lead vocalist Bob Weir has a penchant for singing these western songs, others Weir has covered either with the Dead or his own bands include Johnny Cash's "Big River," and a pair of Marty Robbins tunes, "El Paso" and "Big Iron."
  (Kevin C., Reading, PA)

More Songfacts:

Killer QueenQueen

The Queen song "Killer Queen," according to lead singer Freddie Mercury, is about a high-class call girl.

Opposites AttractPaula Abdul

MC Skat Kat was created for the remix of "Opposites Attract," which was released as the last single from Paula Abdul's Forever Your Girl album. The team that created the Kat also did a-ha's "Take On Me" video.

FootlooseKenny Loggins

The names Louise, Jack, Marie and Milo all show up in the song "Footloose." Marie was the mother of Dean Pitchford, who co-wrote it.

Private IdahoThe B-52s

The B-52's chose the location of their song "Private Idaho" because the state has a reputation for being wacky and mysterious. The title is a play on the phrase "private eye."

The Way We WereBarbra Streisand

"The Way We Were" was the first of five #1 singles by Barbra Streisand. She is the only artist ever to receive an Oscar, Tony, Emmy and Grammy, and also record a #1 single and album.

Street HassleLou Reed

Lou Reed's 11-minute "Street Hassle" features a spoken part by Bruce Springsteen.

Editor's Picks

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

Subversive Songs Used To SellSong Writing

Songs about drugs, revolution and greed that have been used in commercials for sneakers, jeans, fast food, cruises and cars.

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Janis IanSongwriter Interviews

One of the first successful female singer-songwriters, Janis had her first hit in 1967 at age 15.

Billy Joe ShaverSongwriter Interviews

The outlaw country icon talks about the spiritual element of his songwriting and his Bob Dylan mention.

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.