Henry
New Riders Lyrics

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Every year along about this time it all goes dry
There's nothing round for love or money
That'll get you high
Henry got pissed off and said he'd run to Mexico
To see if he could come back holdin'
Twenty keys of gold

Now the road to Acapulco is very hard indeed

And it isn't any better if you haven't any weed
Henry's driving hard and straight
On twisty mountain roads
There's fifty people waiting back
At home for henry's load

And now he's rollin' down the mountain
Going fast, fast, fast
And if he blows it this one's gonna be his last
Run to Acapulco to turn the golden keys
Henry keep the brakes on for this corner if you please

Henry got to Mexico and turned his truck around
He's talking to the man who has it
Growing from the ground
Henry tasted, he got wasted, couldn't even see
How he's gonna drive like that is not too clear to me

And yet he's rollin' down the mountain
Going fast, fast, fast
And if he blows it this one's gonna be his last
Run to Acapulco to turn the golden keys
Henry keep the brakes on for this corner if you please

Sunday afternoon Tijuana is a lovely town
The bullfight brings the tourists and
Their money flowing down
The border guards are much too busy
There at five o' clock
Henry's truckin' right on through,
He hardly even stopped (repeat chorus)

And now he's rollin' down the mountain
Going fast, fast, fast
And if he blows it this one's gonna be his last

Run to Acapulco to turn the golden keys
Henry keep the brakes on for this corner if you please

Overall Meaning

The New Riders of the Purple Sage's song Henry tells the story of a man named Henry who is determined to find a way to make money by transporting large amounts of drugs from Mexico to his home in America. Every year during this time, there is a drought and there is nothing around that can get you high. This prompts Henry to go to Mexico to get twenty keys of gold, which he hopes to sell back home for a high price. The journey to Mexico is tough, especially for someone who doesn't have any weed, but Henry persists.

As Henry travels the twisty mountain roads, he begins to lose control of his truck and starts going faster and faster. He knows that if he blows it, it could be his last. Finally, he reaches Tijuana, where the bullfight brings in tourists and their money. The border guards are busy, and Henry manages to truck his way through with little trouble.

The lyrics of the song depict the desperation that drives someone to break the law in order to make money. It also shows the dangers that come with such a decision, which could lead to severe consequences. Henry's story ultimately reminds us that greed can cloud one's mind and lead to disastrous consequences.

Line by Line Meaning