| "Me and My Uncle" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| Written | 1963 |
| Genre | Country Rock |
| Songwriter | John Phillips |
"Me and My Uncle", often also written as "Me & My Uncle," is a song composed byJohn Phillips ofThe Mamas and the Papas, and popularized in versions byJudy Collins and theGrateful Dead. It relates the journey of a narrator and his uncle from southern Colorado towards west Texas, involving standardcowboy song themes like a poker game inSanta Fe, accusations of cheating, gunplay, gold, and death.[1]
John Phillips originally wrote "Me and My Uncle" at a drinking session in a hotel room with Judy Collins,Stephen Stills, andNeil Young among others in 1963. It was first recorded by Judy Collins in 1964 onThe Judy Collins Concert.[1]
The song was later covered by the Grateful Dead, who adopted it as part of their standard repertoire. It was the single most frequently played song in their live performances, featuring in 616 different shows.[2]Bob Weir is reported to have learned it from James “Curly” Stalarow,[3] a member of the Texas psychedelia scene. The earliest commercially released performance of the song by the Grateful Dead is from the Electric Theater in Chicago, on April 26, 1969, and is available onDick's Picks Volume 26. One of the earliest performances at theMatrix was[1] recorded on November 29, 1966. The song continued to be performed regularly untilJerry Garcia's death and the end of the band in 1995, and remains a staple of the surviving members'repertoire.
"Me and My Uncle" has been covered byJoni Mitchell,John Denver,Dino Valente,Mike Wilhelm,Widespread Panic,Michael Longcor,John Greene,Billy Strings,Max Creek,Goose (American band),Dr. VonFiend andJohn Phillips.
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