{"source":"Free Chord Book","source_url":"https://www.free-chords.com","license_note":"Free for personal use. Lyrics and compositions © their respective songwriters and publishers.","tab_id":12345,"song":"Mexicali Blues","artist":"Grateful Dead","content_type":"chord","tab_type":"Chords","url":"https://www.free-chords.com/song/12345-mexicali-blues-chords-by-grateful-dead/","api_url":"https://www.free-chords.com/api/v1/songs/12345?type=chord","rating":4.78713,"votes":129,"content":"[Notes]\r\nI use a strum with a lot of alternating bass - usually 4th and 5th strings -\r\nfor the A and D chords. However, I find that the strumming patterns\r\nvary greatly throughout the song. Play along with the record to get\r\nthe right feel.\r\n\r\nI fake the trumpet intro with D chord forms using D, Dsus4 and D9.\r\n\r\nThe G-B-Em chord progression in some verses sounds best as single emphasized\r\nstrums synchronized to the words (e.g. some THOUGHT he WAS the LAW).\r\n\r\n[tab] [ch]D[/ch] [ch]Dsus4[/ch] [ch]D9[/ch] [ch]G[/ch]*\r\n EADGBe EADGBe EADGBe EADGBe[/tab]\r\n xxx232 xxx233 xxx23x 32xxx3\r\n\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch] [ch]G[/ch] [ch]B[/ch] [ch]Em[/ch]\r\n EADGBe EADGBe EADGBe EADGBe[/tab]\r\n xx222x 355433 224442 x22xxx\r\n\r\n[Verse 1]\r\n[tab][ch]A[/ch] [ch]C[/ch] [ch]B[/ch] [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nLayin' back in an old saloon with a peso in my hand[/tab]\r\n[tab][ch]A[/ch] [ch]D[/ch]\r\nWatchin' flies and children on the street[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch] [ch]C[/ch] [ch]B[/ch] [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nAnd I catch a glimpse of black-eyed girls who giggle when I smile[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch] [ch]D[/ch]\r\nThere's a little boy who wants to shine my feet[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]G[/ch] [ch]B[/ch] [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nAnd it's three days ride from Bakersfield and I don't know why I came[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch] [ch]D[/ch]\r\nI guess I came to keep from payin' dues[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]G[/ch] [ch]B[/ch] [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nBut instead I've got a bottle and a girl at just fourteen[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch]\r\nAnd a damn good case of the Mexicali Blues, yeah[/tab]\r\n\r\n[Chorus]\r\n[tab][ch]D[/ch]\r\nIs there anything a man don't stand to lose[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch]\r\nWhen the devil wants to take it all away?[/tab]\r\n\r\nCherish well your thoughts, keep a tight grip on your booze\r\n[tab] [ch]G[/ch]* [ch]A[/ch]\r\n'Cuz thinkin' and drinkin' are all I have today.[/tab]\r\n\r\n[Verse 2]\r\n[tab][ch]A[/ch] [ch]C[/ch] [ch]B[/ch] [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nShe said her name was Billie Jean; she was fresh in town[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch] [ch]D[/ch]\r\nI didn't know a stage line ran from hell[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch] [ch]C[/ch] [ch]B[/ch] [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nShe had raven hair, a ruffled dress, a necklace made of gold[/tab]\r\n[tab][ch]A[/ch] [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAll the french perfume you'd care to smell[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]G[/ch] [ch]B[/ch] [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nShe took me up into her room and whispered in my ear[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch] [ch]D[/ch]\r\nGo on my friend do anything you choose.[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]G[/ch] [ch]B[/ch] [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nNow I'm paying for those happy hours I spent there in her arms[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch] [ch]D[/ch]\r\nWith a lifetime case of the Mexicali Blues, yeah.[/tab]\r\n\r\n[Chorus]\r\n[tab][ch]D[/ch]\r\nIs there anything a man don't stand to lose[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch]\r\nWhen the devil wants to take it all away?[/tab]\r\n\r\nCherish well your thoughts, keep a tight grip on your booze\r\n[tab] [ch]G[/ch]* [ch]A[/ch]\r\n'Cuz thinkin' and drinkin' are all I have today.[/tab]\r\n\r\n[Verse 3]\r\n[tab][ch]A[/ch] [ch]C[/ch] [ch]B[/ch] [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nThen a man rode into town; some thought he was the law[/tab]\r\n[tab][ch]A[/ch] [ch]D[/ch]\r\nBillie Jean was waiting when he came[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch] [ch]C[/ch] [ch]B[/ch] [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nShe told me he would take her if I didn't use my gun[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch] [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd I'd have no one but myself to blame[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]G[/ch] [ch]B[/ch] [ch]Em[/ch]\r\nI went down to those dusty streets; blood was on my mind[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch] [ch]D[/ch]\r\nI guess that stranger hadn't heard the news.[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]G[/ch] [ch]B[/ch] [ch]Em[/ch]\r\n\"Cuz I shot first and killed him. Lord he didn't even draw.[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch] [ch]D[/ch]\r\nAnd he made me trade the gallows for the Mexicali Blues.[/tab]\r\n\r\n[Chorus]\r\n[tab][ch]D[/ch]\r\nIs there anything a man don't stand to lose[/tab]\r\n[tab] [ch]A[/ch]\r\nWhen he lets a woman hold him in her hand?[/tab]\r\n\r\nYou just might find yourself out there on horseback in the dark\r\n[tab] [ch]G[/ch]* [ch]A[/ch]\r\nJust ridin' and runnin' across those desert sands.[/tab]","plain_text":"[Notes]\nI use a strum with a lot of alternating bass - usually 4th and 5th strings -\nfor the A and D chords. However, I find that the strumming patterns\nvary greatly throughout the song. Play along with the record to get\nthe right feel.\n\nI fake the trumpet intro with D chord forms using D, Dsus4 and D9.\n\nThe G-B-Em chord progression in some verses sounds best as single emphasized\nstrums synchronized to the words (e.g. some THOUGHT he WAS the LAW).\n\n\n xxx232 xxx233 xxx23x 32xxx3\n\n\n xx222x 355433 224442 x22xxx\n\n[Verse 1]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n[Chorus]\n\n\n\nCherish well your thoughts, keep a tight grip on your booze\n\n\n[Verse 2]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n[Chorus]\n\n\n\nCherish well your thoughts, keep a tight grip on your booze\n\n\n[Verse 3]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n[Chorus]\n\n\n\nYou just might find yourself out there on horseback in the dark","chords":["A","D","Dsus4","D9","G","B","Em","C"]}