Lyr ADD: Me and My Uncle (John Phillips)

Subject: LYR REQ: Me and My Uncle
From: emily rain
Date: 12 May 99 - 03:37 PM

does anyone know the words to this song? judy collins recorded it at some point, but i no longer have access to the album.

me and my uncle went ridin' down
from colorado, west texas bound
and we stopped off in santa fe
it bein' [part?] about halfway
and besides it was the hottest part of the day

[and then they put their ponies in a stall and go to the bar, where the uncle starts a card game. one of the cowboys accuses him of cheating and a fight breaks out; they kick some asses and steal the gold, then "hot-tail it down to mexico"]

well god bless cowboys and god bless gold
god bless my uncle and rest his soul
he taught me well, boys, taught me all i know
taught me so well that i grabbed the gold
and i left him layin' there by the side of the road

Subject: Lyr Add: ME AND MY UNCLE
From: campfire
Date: 12 May 99 - 10:41 PM

I got these lyrics from a Dead lyric sheet:

Me and my Uncle went ridin' down,
South Colorado, West Texas bound,
We stopped over in Sante Fe
that bein' the point 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 bein' summer, I took off my shirt,
And I tried to wash off some of that dusty dirt.

When West Texas cowboys, they's all around.
With liquor and money, they loaded down,
So soon after payday, you know it seemed a sham.
You know my uncle, he starts a friendly game,
High-low jack and the winner takes the hand.

My uncle starts winnin', 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 starts to draw,
And I shot him down, Lord, he never saw.
Shot me another, hot damn, he won't grow old.
In the confusion, my uncle grabbed the gold,
And we high-tailed it down to Mexico.

Now those cowboys, out of their gold,
I loved my uncle, God rest his soul,
Taught me good, Lord, taught me all I know,
Taught me so well, I grabbed that gold,
And left his dead ass there by the side of the road.

campfire

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Me and My Uncle
From: Shack
Date: 13 May 99 - 07:22 PM

It goes like this: Me and my uncle, strolling down the avenue; Me and my UNC-le, no one else to...OOPS! That's "Me and My Shadow." (sorry)

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Me and My Uncle
From: emily rain
Date: 13 May 99 - 07:31 PM

excellent! thanks, campfire!

somehow i can't picture judy collins singing "dead-ass"... *grin*

Subject: Lyr Add: ME AND MY UNCLE
From: emily rain
Date: 13 May 99 - 07:55 PM

from the 'dead version, my mom and i were able to piece together how the judy collins version must have gone. here it is, for your edification:

Me and my Uncle went ridin' down,
South Colorado, West Texas bound,
And we stopped off in Sante Fe
It bein' the point about half way,
and besides it was the hottest part of the day

We led our ponies into a stall,
Went to the bar, boys, bought drinks for all,
Three days in the saddle, my body hurt,
It bein' summer, I took off my shirt,
And I tried to wash off some of that dusty dirt.

West Texas cowboys all over town.
With gold and silver, they're loaded down,
Just in from round-up, it seemed a shame
And so my uncle starts a friendly game,
High-low jack, winner takes the game.

From the beginning, Uncle starts to win
Them Texas cowboys, they're mad as sin,
They say he's cheatin', but that can't be.
Because my uncle, he's honest as me,
And I'm as honest as a Denver man can be.

Well, one of them cowboys, he starts to draw,
I grabbed a bottle, smacked him on the jaw.
I shot another, he won't grow old.
In the confusion, uncle grabbed the gold,
And we high-tailed it down to Mexico.

Now God bless cowboys, and God bless gold
God bless my uncle, and rest his soul,
He taught me well, boys, taught me all I know,
Taught me so well, that I grabbed the gold,
And I left him layin' there by the side of the road.

South Colorado, West Texas bound, And we stopped off in Sante Fe It bein' the point about half way, and besides it was the hottest part of the day

We led our ponies into a stall, Went to the bar, boys, bought drinks for all, Three days in the saddle, my body hurt, It bein' summer, I took off my shirt, And I tried to wash off some of that dusty dirt.

West Texas cowboys all over town. With gold and silver, they're loaded down, Just in from round-up, it seemed a shame And so my uncle starts a friendly game, High-low jack, winner takes the game.

From the beginning, Uncle starts to win Them Texas cowboys, they're mad as sin, They say he's cheatin', but that can't be. Because my uncle, he's honest as me, And I'm as honest as a Denver man can be.

Well, one of them cowboys, he starts to draw, I grabbed a bottle, smacked him on the jaw. I shot another, he won't grow old. In the confusion, uncle grabbed the gold, And we high-tailed it down to Mexico.

Now God bless cowboys, and God bless gold God bless my uncle, and rest his soul, He taught me well, boys, taught me all I know, Taught me so well, that I grabbed the gold, And I left him layin' there by the side of the road.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Me and My Uncle
From: emily rain
Date: 13 May 99 - 07:56 PM

oops. well, there it is. twice.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Me and My Uncle
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 14 May 99 - 12:30 AM

Somehow "Left his dead ass there by the side of the road" trips more naturally off the tongue, don't it?

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Me and My Uncle
From: emily rain
Date: 14 May 99 - 06:42 PM

not the tongue of a sweet innocent young thing like me.

**blink**blink**

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Me and My Uncle
From: campfire
Date: 14 May 99 - 09:03 PM

Hmmmmm- do I remember being sweet and innocent? Hmmmm

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Me and My Uncle
From: CET
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 09:36 AM

I like Emily's lyrics better than the Dead version. They are identical to the lyrics sung by Katy Moffat on her Cowboy Girl CD. I have a few questions, though, which some of you poker playing folks, especially if you live in or about West Texas, might be able to answer.

What does "high-low jacks" mean? Should it be winner takes the "hand" or winner takes the "game"? Also, Katy Moffat sings 10 days in the saddle, but other versions have the narrator spending 3 days in the saddle. How long would it take to ride from Denver to Santa Fe?

Finally, what are West Texas cowboys doing in Santa Fe, New Mexico, "just after round up"?

Edmund

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Me and My Uncle
From: CET
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 09:55 AM

Actually, Katy Moffat's version isn't identical. There are a couple of minor differences in the first two verses. Sorry about that.

CET

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Me and My Uncle
From: Mark Ross
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 12:28 PM

I learned this song from Erik Frandsen. He told me it was written by John Phillips(of the Mamas and the Papas).

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Me and My Uncle
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 14 Mar 03 - 02:39 PM

Lyrics and music by John Phillips, ca. 1966.
John Denver also recorded the song. Guitar tabs are at: Me and My Uncle

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Me and My Uncle
From: CET
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 05:46 PM

Thanks,Q. I downloaded the tabs and my wife and I just sang it through a few times.

Can anybody help with the poker terminology?

Edmund

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Me and My Uncle
From: open mike
Date: 15 Mar 03 - 08:30 PM

i have heard Hi-Lo-Jack and the game
and i do not know what it means...

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: Me and My Uncle
From: Mugwump
Date: 16 Mar 03 - 09:51 AM

The late great Dino Valente recorded a superb version on his self titled solo 1968 album.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Me and My Uncle
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 09:17 AM

ME AND MY UNCLE was written by John Phillips (of the Mamas & the Papas) but not recorded by him until much later. It has been recorded by Craig Chambers, Judy Collins (on "Judy Collins' Concert," 1964), John Denver, the Grateful Dead (on their 1971 eponymous "live" album and several subsequent collections and concert recordings), Michael Longcor, Rory McNamara, Katy Moffatt, John Phillips (on "Phillips 66," 2001), Texas Lone Star, Dino Valente, and Mike Wilhelm.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Me and My Uncle
From: jeffp
Date: 19 Mar 03 - 09:23 AM

For the card game question - high-low-jack

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Me and My Uncle
From: Joe Offer
Date: 30 Jun 21 - 10:53 PM

Joe - needs cleanup

Was this recorded by The Mamas and the Papas??

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Me and My Uncle (John Phillips)
From: GerryM
Date: 01 Jul 21 - 06:35 AM

Joe, I don't think the Mamas & the Papas ever recorded it. Anyway, I haven't found any recording, nor any source saying they made a recording.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Me and My Uncle (John Phillips)
From: gillymor
Date: 01 Jul 21 - 10:36 AM

One of the games we play on poker night is called high low stud where the high and low hands split the pot. I've been singing this one for about 50 years now, since first hearing it on the GD "Skull and Roses" LP and I sing the line re the card game -"High low stud and the winners gonna split the hand".
I remember reading somewhere that the song was part of the repertoire of the Journeymen when Phillips was a member, pre-M&P's.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Me and My Uncle (John Phillips)
From: gillymor
Date: 01 Jul 21 - 10:45 AM

and the GD's variation on the last line,"I left his dead ass there by the side of the road" is the most beautiful sardonic twist I can think of.

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Me and My Uncle (John Phillips)
From: rich-joy
Date: 01 Jul 21 - 07:23 PM

Popular version down in Oz (amongst the prolific folk crowds at least!), was by the excellent West Aussie folk trio "The Twiliters".
But though their recordings were available a few years back for download, nothing seems to have made it yet to YouTube .....

Cheers, R-J

Subject: RE: Lyr ADD: Me and My Uncle (John Phillips)
From: GUEST,#
Date: 03 Jul 21 - 10:41 AM

"Me and My Uncle" written and sung by John Phillips

NB I think part of the problem people may have had locating Phillips' recording is that the 'and' in the song title was replaced by the & sign in some searches, and that seems to have made a difference to the search results. Anyway, there it is.