Me and my uncle went riding down
South Colorado, West Texas bound
We stopped over in Santa Fe
That being 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 bar-room, 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 (note 1)
West Texas cowboys, they's all around
With liquor and money, they're loaded down
So soon after pay day, you know it seemed a shame
You know my uncle, he starts a friendly game
Hi-lo jacks and the winner take the hand (note 2)
My uncle starts winning, cowboys got sore
One of them called him, and then two more
Accused him of cheating, well 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
Well I shot him down, Lord, he never saw (note 3)
Shot me another, hot d*** he won't grow old (note 4)
In the confusion my uncle grabbed the gold
And we high-tailed it down to Mexico
Now I love those cowboys, I love their gold
I love 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 a** there by the side of the road (note 5)
Notes
(1) it could be "... dust and dirt"
(2) that's how I heard it, but Kevin Sullivan believes it's "... winner stakes the hand" (ie the next hand). There has equally been some discussion about "Hi-Lo Jacks." I had thought this was Hi-Lo poker with a pair of jacks as the minimum opener, but Seth Lipner points out that it may be another game called Setback or Pitch, which has points for High, Low, Jack and Game (which goes to the winner of the highest value cards). This is also discussed on the deadsongs.vue conference on The Well.
(3) in some early versions Bob Weir sang "Grabbed me a bottle, cracked him in the jaw" which is similar to what Judy Collins sang in the original version of the song (see below)
(4) variations included "... that man he won't grow old" and maybe "God d*** he won't grow old." Kevin Sullivan argues it should be "I'll dare he won't grow old."
(5) in very early versions, Weir sang "And I left him laying there by the side of the road", also similar to the Judy Collins' version
South Colorado, West Texas bound
We stopped over in Santa Fe
That being 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 bar-room, 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 (note 1)
West Texas cowboys, they's all around
With liquor and money, they're loaded down
So soon after pay day, you know it seemed a shame
You know my uncle, he starts a friendly game
Hi-lo jacks and the winner take the hand (note 2)
My uncle starts winning, cowboys got sore
One of them called him, and then two more
Accused him of cheating, well 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
Well I shot him down, Lord, he never saw (note 3)
Shot me another, hot d*** he won't grow old (note 4)
In the confusion my uncle grabbed the gold
And we high-tailed it down to Mexico
Now I love those cowboys, I love their gold
I love 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 a** there by the side of the road (note 5)
Notes
(1) it could be "... dust and dirt"
(2) that's how I heard it, but Kevin Sullivan believes it's "... winner stakes the hand" (ie the next hand). There has equally been some discussion about "Hi-Lo Jacks." I had thought this was Hi-Lo poker with a pair of jacks as the minimum opener, but Seth Lipner points out that it may be another game called Setback or Pitch, which has points for High, Low, Jack and Game (which goes to the winner of the highest value cards). This is also discussed on the deadsongs.vue conference on The Well.
(3) in some early versions Bob Weir sang "Grabbed me a bottle, cracked him in the jaw" which is similar to what Judy Collins sang in the original version of the song (see below)
(4) variations included "... that man he won't grow old" and maybe "God d*** he won't grow old." Kevin Sullivan argues it should be "I'll dare he won't grow old."
(5) in very early versions, Weir sang "And I left him laying there by the side of the road", also similar to the Judy Collins' version