Down in Mexico

Album: The Ultimate Coasters (1956)
Play Video
  • Down in Mexicali
    There's a crazy little place that I know
    Where the drinks are hotter than the chili sauce
    And the boss is a cat named Joe

    He wears a red bandana, plays a blues pianna [this is the way he pronounces
    It; to rhyme with "bandana"]
    In a honky-tonk, down in Mexico
    He wears a purple sash, and a black moustache
    In a honky-tonk, down in Mexico

    Well, the first time that I saw him
    He was sittin' on a piano stool
    I said "Tell me dad, when does the fun begin?"
    He just winked his eye and said "Man, be cool."

    He wears a red bandana, plays a blues pianna
    In a honky-tonk, down in Mexico
    He wears a purple sash, and a black moustache
    In a honky-tonk, down in Mexico

    All of a sudden in walks this chick
    Joe starts playing on a Latin kick
    Around her waist she wore three fishnets
    She started dancin' with the castanets
    I didn't know just what to expect
    She threw her arms around my neck
    We started dancin' all around the floor
    And then she did a dance I never saw before.

    So if you're south of the border
    I mean down in Mexico
    And you want to get straight,
    Man, don't hesitate
    Just look up a cat named Joe.

    He wears a red bandana, plays a blues pianna
    In a honky-tonk, down in Mexico
    He wears a purple sash, and a black moustache
    In a honky-tonk, down in Mexico

    Yeah, como est usted senorita
    Come with me to the border, south of the border, that is
    In Mexico, yeah in Mexico
    You can get your kicks in Mexico
    Come with me baby, come with me, come with me, crazy, yeah Writer/s: JERRY LEIBER, MIKE STOLLER
    Publisher: BELINDA ABERBACH STEVENSON AGAR REVOCABLE TRUST, O/B/O DistroKid, RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 1

  • Nick from London, United KingdomLeiber and Stoller were certain they had a hit on their hands with Riot in cell block #9 and its failure came as something of a blow to them. They quickly realised that Spark was too small an outfit to get them where they wanted to be, so when an offer came to move to New York and work freelance for Atlantic Records, the two writer/producers jumped at the chance. This caused a problem in the ranks of the Robins because half the group including Terrell Leonard wanted to stay where they were. Leonard had the name Robins registered as a trademark, so when Bobby Nunn and Carl Gardner moved out east, the rest of the band stayed put keeping the name. Before the split, they recorded one last song together, Smokey Joe's Café and sticking with the Mexico theme, Leiber and Stoller came up with Down In Mexico for the first single by the new band, the Coasters, so-named in order to retain their connection with the West Coast. It was a top ten R&B hit but the next release Searchin'/Young Blood was a double-sided smash, which crashed into the pop charts at #3 and cemented their place in music history. Billboard February 1956: "Here's a new and definitely swinging crew and they delivera couple of highly commendable sides. Down In Mexico is a fetching ditty which is very close to Smokey Joe's Café."
    Nick Duckett
    http://www.rhythmandbluesrecords.co.uk/
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-Nighters

Waiting For The Break of Day: Three Classic Songs About All-NightersSong Writing

These Three famous songs actually describe how they were written - late into the evening.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)

Bands Named After Real People (Who Aren't In The Band)Song Writing

How a gym teacher, a janitor, and a junkie became part of some very famous band names.

Rick Springfield

Rick SpringfieldSongwriter Interviews

Rick has a surprising dark side, a strong feminine side and, in a certain TV show, a naked backside. But he still hasn't found Jessie's Girl.

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many Songs

Who's Johnny, And Why Does He Show Up In So Many SongsSong Writing

For songwriters, Johnny represents the American man. He has been angry, cool, magic, a rebel and, of course, marching home.

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went Mainstream

Jesus In Pop Hits: The Gospel Songs That Went MainstreamSong Writing

These overtly religious songs crossed over to the pop charts, despite resistance from fans, and in many cases, churches.