Day #2 - Me and My Uncle

Many of the songs I cover are stories narrated by the main character in the song, or a third party. Me and My Uncle is a great example of this. The song tells the story of the journey of a young cowboy and his uncle from Colorado through West Texas, to Santa Fe, and ultimately Mexico. Its lyrics could be the basis for the screenplay of a 50’s western movie. It could remind one of “The Treasure of Sierra Madre”.

I first heard the song in the early 70’s off the Grateful Dead’s “Skull and Roses” live album (reviewed last February here). For me, it was an introduction to the Dead’s foray into country music. The song was actually written in 1963 by John Phillips of The Mamas and the Pappas. The Dead began performing it as early as late 1966, and it remained a staple of their set list throughout the 30-year run of the band.

There are many, many versions of the song on-line by artists other than the Dead. My version here doesn’t live up to any of those performed by Judy Collins or Joni Mitchell, and certainly not Billy Strings. But it’s a fun campfire song and one that I don’t need a lyric sheet or a teleprompter to remember.