Laid back in an old saloon
with a peso in my hand
watching flies
and children on the street
And I catch a glimpse
of black-eyed girls
who giggle when I smile
there's a little boy
who wants to shine my feet
And it's three days ride
from Bakersfield
and I don't know why I came
I guess I came to keep
from paying dues
so instead I've got a bottle
and a girl who's just fourteen
and a damn good case
of the Mexicali blues
yeah
Is there anything
a man don't stand to lose
when the devil wants to
take it all away
Cherish well your thoughts
and keep a tight grip
on your booze
'cause thinking and drinking
are all I have today
She said her name
was Billy Jean
and she was fresh in town
I didn't know a stage line
ran from Hell
She had raven hair
a ruffled dress
a necklace made of gold
all the French perfume
you'd care to smell
She took me
up into her room
and whispered in my ear
go on my friend
do anything you choose
Now I'm paying
for those happy hours
I spent there in her arms
with a lifetime's worth
of the Mexicali Blues
yeah
Is there anything
a man don't stand to lose
when the devil wants to
take it all away
Cherish well your thoughts
and keep a tight grip
on your booze
'cause thinking and drinking
are all I have today
And then a man rode into town
some thought he was the law
Billy Jean was waiting
when he came
She told me
he would take her
if I didn't use my gun
I'd have no one
but myself to blame
I went down to those
dusty streets
blood was on my mind
I guess that stranger
hadn't heard the news
'cause I shot first
and killed him
Lord he didn't even draw
and he made me trade
the gallows
for the Mexicali Blues
yeah
Is there anything
a man don't stand to lose
when he lets a woman
hold him in her hands
He just might find himself
out there on horseback
in the dark
just riding and running
across those desert sands