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Mexican Standoff Lyrics

Shifting my weight now from foot to foot
What did she see in this man
I’m not superstitious but if I can get
This ball in the basket
Then he’ll wake up dead

Your sweet reassurances don’t’ change the fact
That he’s better looking than me
Yet he’d look ideal ‘neath the wheels of a car
Oh Mexican standoff I wish I was hard
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Cover art for Mexican Standoff lyrics by Elbow

Pretty much seems to be about two men after one woman. Maybe she was going out with the other man but is now going out with the narrator, or maybe she's deciding now. Either way there's some competition involved. This might be something to do with Guy's relationship with Edith Bowman, and maybe even about how she went out with Editors' Tom Smith after Guy and her broke up. Could be written about any relationship of his though it's hard to tell. Great song.

Cover art for Mexican Standoff lyrics by Elbow

Guy IS tall...

Cover art for Mexican Standoff lyrics by Elbow

He said in a radio interview its about when he noticed a picture of his girlfriends ex boyfriend pinned up on her wall. He said he was a good looking guy and had a fit of jealousy!

Cover art for Mexican Standoff lyrics by Elbow

The lyric is, "I wish I was tall."

Cover art for Mexican Standoff lyrics by Elbow

second time round is definitely "I wish I was hard." to me it sounds more like "I wish I was part" the first time...

Cover art for Mexican Standoff lyrics by Elbow

I hear "I wish I was part" as well, almost like he wishes to be included in the standoff because right now he feels like the girl is still hooked on the past guy.

The second time around though, it doesn't sound like part. No idea, but awesome song nonetheless!

Cover art for Mexican Standoff lyrics by Elbow

It sounded like 'hot' and not 'hard' or 'part' to me

Cover art for Mexican Standoff lyrics by Elbow

I wish I was HARD! As in hard man. Basically, he wishes he was tough and brave enough to beat the crap out of the girlfriend's ex.

Jealousy and an inferiority complex. Bad times!

 
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