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Mexico Lyrics
Owsley and Charlie, twins of the trade,
Come to the Poet's Room
Talking about the problems of the leaf,
And yes, it'll be back soon
There used to be tons of gold and green
Comin' up here from Mexico
A donde esta la planta, mi amigo, del sol?
[The translation is: "Where is the plant, my friend, of the sun."]
But Mexico is under the thumb
Of a man we call Richard
And he's come to call himself king
But he's a small-headed man
And he doesn't know a thing
About how to deal for you
How to deal for you
There are millions of you now
I mean it's not as if you were alone
There are brothers everywhere
Just waiting for a toke on that gold
And God knows how far it can go
But thanks Uncle Charlie
For your Mexican smoke
You're a legend Owsley
For your righteous dope
There were a half a million people on the lawn
And we sang to the faces in the dark
How long must that damn race
Wait for the jailer's time to end?
How long must the Panther race
Wait for the iron bars to bend?
And no no no no no nobody waits
Come to the Poet's Room
Talking about the problems of the leaf,
And yes, it'll be back soon
Comin' up here from Mexico
A donde esta la planta, mi amigo, del sol?
[The translation is: "Where is the plant, my friend, of the sun."]
Of a man we call Richard
And he's come to call himself king
But he's a small-headed man
And he doesn't know a thing
About how to deal for you
There are millions of you now
I mean it's not as if you were alone
There are brothers everywhere
Just waiting for a toke on that gold
And God knows how far it can go
For your Mexican smoke
You're a legend Owsley
For your righteous dope
And we sang to the faces in the dark
How long must that damn race
Wait for the jailer's time to end?
How long must the Panther race
Wait for the iron bars to bend?
And no no no no no nobody waits
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According to Grace, it's "Richard" Nixon's anti-drug and anti-hippie capade in the 70's, and it's telling everybody not to give in.
The last paragraph changes focus a little, telling everybody that they are the majority, and that this shouldn't, and can't it everybody stands against it.
The Panther Race is definitely supposed to be black people, but I have no idea what the "damn race" is. I alway's thought it was "downed race".
@dthesq She refers to blacks as being a "damned race" in that they have been damned by fate, white society or the gods, whatever, but she certainly doesn't mean it as a slur. She sings of the Black Panthers who though a bit misguided, were fighting a revolution of black emancipation. She does certainly tell others not necessarily to "do" anything but wants people to confront the truth about our society & how blacks had been unfairly incarcerated beyond what was justified.
@dthesq She refers to blacks as being a "damned race" in that they have been damned by fate, white society or the gods, whatever, but she certainly doesn't mean it as a slur. She sings of the Black Panthers who though a bit misguided, were fighting a revolution of black emancipation. She does certainly tell others not necessarily to "do" anything but wants people to confront the truth about our society & how blacks had been unfairly incarcerated beyond what was justified.
Howdy (after quite a few years since the 1st post on this!) Owsley was the famous LSD manufacturer. Not to do with marijuana. I still don't know who [Uncle] Charlie was. Anybody?
Clearly, they are referrerincing drugs, specifically marijuana. I love weed.
@DeusFNL She wasn't referencing drugs per se but marijuana in particular, she also references the plight of blacks as 2nd class citizens during that time.
@DeusFNL She wasn't referencing drugs per se but marijuana in particular, she also references the plight of blacks as 2nd class citizens during that time.
Clearly, they are referrerincing drugs, specifically marijuana. I love weed.
A few corrections: it's "You're famous Uncle Charlie", not "thanks".
"And we sang to their faces in the dawn" (not dark) a reference to the Airplane's sunup performance at Woodstock.
I also am unsure about "that damn race" and will check back when I know.
@palealien Not "that damn race" but that "damned race" in saying how they have been damned by the rest of society in a manner of speaking.
@palealien Not "that damn race" but that "damned race" in saying how they have been damned by the rest of society in a manner of speaking.
This song is one of the great protest songs of the 60's, early 70's, calling out Nixon over his implementation of Operation Intercept, cutting off our supply of pot from Mexico to which so many of us had become accustomed.