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Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico - anyone got tab? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico - anyone got tab? From: GUEST Date: 16 Oct 23 - 08:57 PM The Lonesome Ace Stringband is my favorite, love to get the lyrics of their version. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico - anyone got tab? From: GUEST Date: 16 Oct 23 - 08:57 PM The Lonesome Ace Stringband is my favorite, love to get the lyrics of their version. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico - anyone got tab? From: gillymor Date: 22 May 22 - 03:18 PM I found a clawhammer tab pdf onYoutube (click link below video) by Charlie Marks with instruction. It's somewhat similar to the Willie Watson version. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico - anyone got tab? From: Lighter Date: 20 May 22 - 10:04 AM W. P. Webb writes in Publications of the Texas Folklore Society II, (1923), p. 44: "The following [song was] obtained from a man who lives at Uvalde. He had been a cowboy, but as ranching has about passed out, he has turned his attention to the moving picture business instead. He had in his possession a home talent production of wild west life produced by himself in the rough mountainous country of Uvalde, which he carried from town to town in automobile [sic] and showed for one or two nights at local theaters. BOGGUS CREEK As I rode in the town of Fort Griffin in the spring of '83 An old Texas cowman came riding up to me, Saying, "How do you do, young fellow, and how would you like to go And spend one summer season in the hills of Mexico?" "It's being out of employment," to the drover I did say, "For me to go to New Mexico depends upon the pay, But if you pay good wages and transportation too, I wouldn't mind to go along and spend a month or two." "Oh, yes, we pay good wages, free transportation too, But if you grow homesick, Fort Griffin bound to go, I'll never loan you a horse to ride from the hills of Mexico." "O listen to that old driver's talk, O listen what a gag." It's ten or twenty cowboys, all stout able-bodied men, Our trip it was a pleasant one Until we reached old Boggus Creek out in old Mexico. Now our pleasures have all ended and our troubles have begun The first hail storm we had on us, Gosh, how those cattle run. They run through thorns and thickets, our lives we had no show, For there's no worse hell on earth than the hills of Mexico. Go home to wives and sweethearts, tell others not to go To the God-forsaken country of old New Mexico. Fuller than Holcomb's text, but still missing words. Juergen Kloss has a splendid essay in the whole "Buffalo Skinners" family here. (Highly recommended): https://justanothertune.com/html/buffaloskinners.html |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico - anyone got tab? From: cnd Date: 19 May 22 - 12:03 PM I had the chance to speak to Willie about his version of the song recently, and he explained that he just combined the songs because they shared the same tune and the version he based his on (Roscoe Holcomb, I think he said) needed another verse. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico - anyone got tab? From: gillymor Date: 10 May 21 - 11:49 AM Willie seems to have grafted a bit of Diamond Joe onto it and I think it works well. The last verse of H.o.M. in the Renegades' version mentions Arkansas: Well I drew my last wages and northward I did go, Rolling cross the Rio Grand(ee) and made for Arkansas, When I reached my destination there was no one I did know, It was almost bleak and barren as those hills of Mexico. (that's the way I hear the words) |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico - anyone got tab? From: cnd Date: 10 May 21 - 10:09 AM I recently got on somewhat of a tangent looking into this song. A modern singer, Willie Watson, has a great version of this song he titles "Mexican Cowboy" (click), referenced by gillymor above. As best as I can find, the CD has no liner notes to indicate where his version comes from; I'll post the lyrics below for comparison. I started this distraction because I was listening to Sam Bush's "Diamond Joe" (listen). His version is mostly similar to the Bob Dylan-styled version in the DT here. Now, what struck me is that both versions have the line about a string of horses so old they couldn't stand. Diamond Joe is, as far as I've found, the only other song which uses that line, meaning Watson's version is really an amalgam of Diamond Joe and Hills of Mexico. Additionally, several versions of Diamond Joe have been linked to The State of Arkansas, most directly through melody and the line about corn dodgers (more via Richie's BluegrassMessengers site). That means that we've got a sort of triumvirate of connected songs here, all interrelated though distinct. I just found that kind of interesting. Watson's version is not as clearly linked to State of Arkansas, though it is reminiscent. Here are the lyrics to Watson's version as copied from the "Genius" lyrics website with a few modifications for readability by me: Swinging in to old Fort Worth in 1883 Some old Mexican cowboy come steppin' up to me Sayin' "How are you young fella? When would you like to go And spend another season with me in Mexico?" I had no employment, back to him did say "It's according to your wages, according to your pay" Said "I'll pay you good wages and often, too, you now If you spend another season with me in Mexico" I went up to this cowboy, I offered him my hand But he gave a string of horses so old they couldn't stand And I nearly starved to death boys, I mean to let you know And I never saw a dollar in those hills of Mexico I got up on that steamboat and back to home did go How th?m bells, they did ring, those whistl?s did blow How them bells, they did ring, those whistles did blow On that godforsaken fortune 'neath those hills of Mexico |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico - anyone got tab? From: gillymor Date: 28 Jan 18 - 06:00 AM Here's banjo tab from the Banjo Hangout in PDF or TablEdit: Hills of Mexico |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico From: GUEST Date: 28 Jan 18 - 01:15 AM Anyone happen to have the tab for this song? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico From: gillymor Date: 30 Aug 17 - 11:28 AM Listening to that excellent Polecat Creek version linked above (Riley Baugus on banjo, I assume) I noticed this interesting take on it: Meredith Moon She throws in a verse you usually hear in Diamond Joe. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico From: John Minear Date: 30 Aug 17 - 11:07 AM Check out "Hills of Mexico" by Polecat Creek (Laurelyn Dossett & Kari Sickenberger) on their album "Ordinary Seasons". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0P6oXls0Ss&index=5&list=PLDV3iPXCQ9ViVqzC2JpMnTjJ-9n95i0hc |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico From: gillymor Date: 30 Aug 17 - 08:04 AM Mexican Cowboy- Willie Watson |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico From: gillymor Date: 30 Aug 17 - 07:15 AM A lot of folks think it's similar to "Buffalo Skinners" but I sing both songs and I don't hear it. They share a few lyrics but the melodies are distinctly different. The Renegades, long since disbanded, did my favorite version with Carol Elizabeth Jones on vocals and James Leva on fiddle. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico From: Hrothgar Date: 30 Aug 17 - 04:18 AM Looks as though it is a close relation to "The Range of the Buffalo" |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico From: Joe Offer Date: 29 Aug 17 - 03:49 PM Here's the Roscoe Holcomb recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pi7nxuQZnJ8 Ricky Skaggs & Bruce Hornsby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncWVa3da6jM Bruce Molsky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwADChpHyW4 |
Subject: Lyr Add: HILLS OF MEXICO (Roscoe Holcomb) From: banjoonthelump Date: 29 Aug 17 - 11:22 AM Hills of Mexico by Roscoe Holcomb When I'zzzzzz in old Fort Worth in 18 and 83 Some ol' Mexican cowboy come steppin' up to me Sayin' I'll hire you young feller How would you love to go and to spend another season with me in Mexico? Lord, I had no employment back to him did say Tis' 'cordin' to your wages and 'cordin' to your pay Say I will pay to you good wages often, till you're home If you'll spend another season with me in Mexico (break) And they sent an'on that old steamboat and back to home did go How the bells it did ring the whistles they did blow How the bells it did ring the whistles they did blow In a God forsaken part fer from those hills of Mexico |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico From: Amos Date: 27 Jun 15 - 12:53 PM Fascinating that whole sections of this song are straight lifts from "The Buffalo Skinners", where Mexico is only mentioned in passing as a layby for outlaws. Or, is it the other way 'round? (Just because I learned Buffalo Skinners first does not mean it is the actual provenance of those floating couplets!) An opportunity for scholarship! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico From: GUEST,gillymor Date: 27 Jun 15 - 09:44 AM Hey Joe Offer, what is the procedure for getting a song, this song, installed in the DT?
-Joe- |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico From: GUEST,gillymor Date: 12 Jun 15 - 03:08 PM Here's The Ricky Skaggs/ Bruce Hornsby version lyrics: HILLS OF MEXICO When I's in old Fort Worth in eighteen and eighty-three Saw a Mexican cowboy come ridin' up to me Sayin' how are you, young fellow, how would you like to go And spend another summer in the hills of Mexico? Well, I had no appointment back to him I did say It's accordin' to your wages, accordin' to your pay I will pay to you good wages and often, too, you know If you'll spend another season in the hills of Mexico Now with all this flatterin' talkin' he signed up quite a train Some ten or twelve in number, some able bodied men And our trip it was pleasant as we hit the western road Till we crossed the old Peace River to those hills of Mexico It was there our pleasures ended and our troubles all begun Was a lightening storm that hit us and made the cattle run And we all got full of stickers from the cactus that did grow And the outlaws there to rob us in those hills of Mexico Well, they sent along that old steamboat and back to home did go How those bells started ringing, the whistles they did blow Going back to friends and loves ones and I'll tell them not to go To that God-forsaken country in those hills of Mexico And Willie Watson performing Mexican Cowboy. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico From: Lighter Date: 12 Jun 15 - 02:38 PM Thanks. One or two words (like "part down") may still be off. Typo: "home did go." The line doesn't make much sense, but that's what he seems to be singing. Possibly he learned the song garbled (several stanzas are missing in comparison with its model, "The Range of the Buffalo.") Or he may simply have forgotten the words. Great trad performance though. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico From: GUEST,gillymor Date: 12 Jun 15 - 02:22 PM That is closer to what Holcomb sang on the several versions I listened to, Ligthter. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico From: Lighter Date: 12 Jun 15 - 12:54 PM Here's what I hear Holcomb singing on YouTube. A few words are inaudible to me: When I's in Old Fort Worth in 18 and 83, Some old Mexican cowboy come stepping up to me Sayin' now how're you, young fella, how would you love to go? You can spend another season on the plain of Mexico. Lord, I have no employment back to him did say. Said, it is 'cordin' to your wages an' 'cordin' to your pay, Said, I'll pay to you good wages, often till you're ???? If you'll spend another season 'long with me in Mexico. And his wages on that old steamboat we back to home go. How the bells they did ring, the whistles they did blow. How the bells they did ring, the whistles they did blow. In that godforsaken part down in the hills of Mexico. |
Subject: Lyr Add: Hills of Mexico From: GUEST,gillymor Date: 12 Jun 15 - 11:32 AM This from the Roscoe Holcomb version: Hills Of Mexico When I was in Old Fort Worth in 18 and 83 Some old Mexican cowboy come stepping up to me Said I'll hire you, young fella, how would you love to go And to spend the season working in those hills of Mexico Well having no employment back to him I did say 'Tis according to your wages, according to your pay Said I'll pay you good wages, on a steamboat you will go And you'll spend the season working in those hills of Mexico Well, they sent along that old steamboat and back to home did go How those bells started ringing, the whistles they did blow Going back to friends and loves ones and I'll tell them not to go To that God-forsaken country in those hills of Mexico. I was surprised to find that this great cowboy song was not in the DT (or did I miss it?). It bears some similarities to Buffalo Skinners and is also known as Mexican Cowboy. There are a lot of fine versions out there by Bruce Molsky, Ricky Skaggs, Elizabeth LaPrelle, Willie Watson, Riley Baugus and others but my absolute favorite is a longer version by The Renegades with Carol Elizabeth Jones on vocals. |
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