Me and My Uncle
Grateful Dead
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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
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
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.
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OriginThis 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.
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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.
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PerformanceThis song is considered one of the Dead's most frequently performed songs. It was played over 600 times.
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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.
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LyricsThe 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.
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Studio RecordingAlthough "Me and My Uncle" was recorded live for the "Skull & Roses" album, the Grateful Dead never recorded a studio version of the song.
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CollaborationsAs 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."
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VariationsAs 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.
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LegacyToday, "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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Citation
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"Me and My Uncle Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Sep. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/29749739/Grateful+Dead/Me+and+My+Uncle>.
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