SLS – Tequila

This week Jim Adams has prompted us with Burrito/Fajita/Mexican/Tequila for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday. Since my drink of choice (back in my heyday of drinking) was Tequila, I wasn’t passing this up and maybe I took the easy way out, but you are getting me and my preferred spirit.

Mexican food is my favorite cuisine. I suppose that is because I was born and raised in Texas. Tex-Mex is really what I grew up on, but whenever I can find some true homemade authentic Mexican food, I’m as happy as can be…as long as it isn’t too spicy.

E-Club at Camp Pendleton – 1984. I’m far left pretending to hold up a tequila shot.

However, I’m still sticking with the Tequila. I’ve always preferred the taste of gold over the silver. Who needs Patron when you have Jose Cuervo at a reasonable price. Once when I was stationed at Camp Pendleton, California, me and a few of the guys took a trip down to Tijuana. It was safer to drink the tequila than it was to drink the water, so we indulged except for the one driving. That wasn’t me…driving that is, so I indulged. Scary place to be, Tijuana, but we were a bunch of Marines who thought we were invincible. In the photo above, I was fakin’ holding up a shot because the E-Club only sold beer and wine, hence the trip to Mexico.

“Jose Cuervo” the song was still very popular in the country bars and even the E-Club. There might have been a time or two that I found myself living out that song a bit. I will admit that I danced on a bar or two. I still dream of those days as an 18-19 year old who loved to party. BTW…the drinking age was 18 in 1984.

I love me some Tequila shots, Tequila Sunrise and my own creation Tequila Surprise.

Here is what happened….

A few years ago, I decided to make myself a Tequila Sunrise. I got out my ingredients…grenadine, handle of Cuervo, orange juice and ice. I poured in my tequila, added the orange juice, then the grenadine and went in for my taste test before adding the ice. It was not right! Something was dreadfully wrong! I turned the bottle around and realized I had grabbed the handle of Captain Morgan. Ooops! So, I put my concoction into a larger glass, added Jose Cuervo and viola…..Tequila Surprise. It was yummy! With both the rum and the tequila and once I added the ice and got it cold. Oh man! It became my drink of choice, but only I knew how to make it.

One Tequila…Two Tequila…Three Tequila…FLOOR!

The video above is from Halloween, 1986 while Shelly West performs on the Ralph Emery Show. Many of the band members, Ralph and all his guest that night were in costume and it made for a festive performance. I met Ralph in 2003 while working at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida and was able to sit down with him and chat for about an hour. He gave me a signed copy of his book after our visit. Really a top-notch, down to earth guy.

SONG FACTS

• Written and originally recorded by Cindy Jordan in 1982
• Shelly West released the single in February 1983
• Reached #1 on the US Hot Country Songs Billboard
• Reached #1 on the Canada Country Tracks (RPM)
• Due to its commercial success, you can still find it on any karaoke list.

Well it's Sunday Mornin'
And the sun in shinin'
In my eye that is open
And my head is spinnin'
Was the life of the party
I can't stop grinnin'
I had to much Tequila last night
Jose Cuervo you are a friend of mine
I like to drink you with a little salt and lime
Did I kiss all the cowboys?
Did I shoot out the lights?
Did I dance on the bar?
Did I start a fight?
Now wait a minute
Things don't look to familiar
Who is this cowboy
Who's sleepin' beside me?
He's awful cute, but how'd I
Get his shirt on?
I had to much Tequila last night
Jose Cuervo you are a friend of mine
I like to drink you with a little salt and lime
Did I kiss all the cowboys?
Did I shoot out the lights?
Did I dance on the bar?
Did I start a fight?
All those little shooters
How I love to drink 'em down
Come on bartender
Let's have another round [Modulates]
Well the music is playing
And my spirits are high
Tomorrow might be painful
But tonight we're gonna fly
Jose Cuervo you are a friend of mine
I like to drink you with a little salt and lime
Every time we get together
I sure have a good time
You're my friend
You're the best
Mi amigo
(Tequila)
Jose Cuervo you are a friend of mine
I like to drink you with a little salt and lime
Did I kiss all the cowboys?
Did I shoot out the lights?
Did I dance on the bar?
Did I start a fight?
Jose Cuervo you are a friend of mine
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Cindy Jordan
Jose Cuervo lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC