Me and My Uncle

Grateful Dead

About Me and My Uncle

"Me and My Uncle", often also written as "Me & My Uncle," is a song composed by John Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas, and popularized in versions by Judy Collins and the Grateful Dead. It relates the journey of a narrator and his uncle from southern Colorado towards west Texas, involving standard cowboy song themes like a poker game in Santa Fe, accusations of cheating, gunplay, gold, and death.


Year:
2001
5:32
108 
#1

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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 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 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 one seemed ashamed,
You know my uncle, he starts playin' the game,
Hey! A hollow jack and the winner take the hand.

My uncle starts 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,
And I'm as honest as a Denver man can be.

One of them cowboys he starsts to draw,
And I shot him down Lord, He never saw,
Shot me another, Right then he hit the floor,
In the confusion, my uncle grabbed the gold,
And we hightailed it down to Mexico.

Now I love thoe 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, and
I left his dead ass there by the side of the road

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Grateful Dead

The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in Palo Alto, California. 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 musical improvisation. "Their music," writes Lenny Kaye, "touches on ground that most other groups don't even know exists." These various influences were distilled into a diverse and psychedelic whole that made the Grateful Dead "the pioneering Godfathers of the jam band world." They were ranked 57th in the issue The Greatest Artists of all Time by Rolling Stone magazine. They were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and their Barton Hall Concert at Cor… more »

10 fans

Written by: John Phillips

Lyrics © Spirit Music Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Songwriter
"Me and My Uncle" was not written by any member of the Grateful Dead, but by singer-songwriter John Phillips of The Mamas & the Papas.
Origin
This song has a unique origin story. John Phillips allegedly wrote this song during a tequila-fueled night with Judy Collins and Stephen Stills. He had no memory of writing the song and only recognized it when Judy Collins recorded it.
Releases
"Me and My Uncle" was covered by The Grateful Dead and first appeared on their 1971 live album "Grateful Dead," also known as "Skull & Roses" due to its cover artwork.
Performance
This song is considered one of the Dead's most frequently performed songs. It was played over 600 times.
Genre
"Me and My Uncle" is often described as a traditional rock song with strong influences of country and blues, which were significant elements of the Grateful Dead's music style.
Lyrics
The song tells a story of a cowboy and his uncle who ventures into wild towns and has run-ins with dangerous people, reflecting the American West folklore.
Studio Recording
Although "Me and My Uncle" was recorded live for the "Skull & Roses" album, the Grateful Dead never recorded a studio version of the song.
Collaborations
As a popular Grateful Dead tune, it was often performed with other standby songs, such as "Big River," "Playing in the Band," and "The Other One."
Variations
As with most Dead songs, the band's performances of "Me and My Uncle" would vary greatly over the years, with some renditions becoming more prolonged and jam-oriented.
Legacy
Today, "Me and My Uncle" continues to be a favorite among Grateful Dead fans and often covered by bands that play Grateful Dead repertoire.

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