Frequent releases during the mid-60s included many cover versions of popular songs, as well as a few group-penned hits and many songs written especially for them by professional songwriters.
The Hollies were formed in 1962 in Lancashire, England. By 1965,the group had been established as one of Britain's pre-eminent singles bands. As part of the British Invasion, they enjoyed huge chart success in many countries in the mid-Sixties, releasing a string of classic harmony-pop hits including Bus Stop I'm Alive, a UK No. 1, I Can't Let Go, Stop Stop Stop, Carrie Anne, On A Carousel, Look Through Any Window, and Jennifer Eccles.
In 1972, the hit Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress reached #2 in the US. Their last mega hit was He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother, hitting #1 in the UK in 1988 (albeit 19 years after its first release).
The band are noted for their longevity, with their 2006 tour chalking up 45 years. Despite numerous changes in line-up, Tony Hicks & Bobby Elliott have been with the band almost from its inception.
Lead singer Allan Clarke left The Hollies in 1971, though he rejoined the band at later times. He was eventually replaced by Carl Wayne, ex lead singer of The Move, who passed away in 2004. Wayne was replaced by Peter Howarth. The 2007 line up is, Ian Parker on keyboards, Ray Stiles (Ex Mud, remember 'Tiger Feet') on bass guitar and Alan Coates on guitar and vocals by Steve Lauri.
Original bass player Eric Haydock died in January 2018.
The Hollies were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on March 15, 2010.
Allan Clarke (vocals, 1962-71, 1973-99), Graham Nash (guitar, vocals, 1962-68, 1983), Eric Haydock (bass, 1962-66), Vick Farrell (guitar, 1962), Don Rathbone (drums, 1962-63), Tony Hicks (guitar, banjo, mandolin, electric sitar, vocals, 1963-present), Bobby Elliott (drums, percussion, 1963-present), Bernie Calvert (bass, 1966-81), Terry Sylvester (guitar, vocals, 1969-81), Mikael Rickfors (vocals, 1971-73), Denis Haines (bass, 1981-86), Alan Coates (guitar, 1981-2004), Ray Stiles (bass, vocals, 1986-present), Ian Parker (keyboards, vocals, 1991-present), Carl Wayne (vocals, 2000-04), Peter Howarth (vocals, acoustic guitar, 2004-present), Steve Lauri (guitar, vocals, 2004-present)
Mexico Gold
The Hollies Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'cause I heard a lot of things about the North American girls
I was looking for a lady
someone to have my baby
So I got me on a 747 Pan-American plane
I sat me down next to your all-American dame
Said I'm going up north
Then she told about the gold
down in Mexico City
Oh she said "Lordy Lordy
watch the blue smoke flying
every morning and every night
to get you out of your head
Oh man oh Lordy Lordy it's a natural high
when you're living down south
and it's going right out of your head
Got off the plane went to the customs
and they gave me a list
Do you carry a gun take drugs or are you Communist
They said my papers were in order
I wasn't staying long no sir
I'm going south across the border
Oh she said "Lordy Lordy
watch the blue smoke flying
every morning and every night
to get you out of your head
Oh man oh Lordy Lordy it's a natural high
when you're living down south
and it's going right out of your head
Took the first southbound
across the Rio and down
Found a little place in the small Mexico town
Just me and my lady
now she's having my baby
Oh she said "Lordy Lordy
watch the blue smoke flying
every morning and every night
to get you out of your head
Oh man oh Lordy Lordy it's a natural high
when you're living down south
and it's going right out of your head
Oh she said "Lordy Lordy
watch the blue smoke flying
every morning and every night
to get you out of your head
Oh man oh Lordy Lordy it's a natural high
when you're living down south
and it's going right out of your head
The Hollies's song "Mexico Gold" tells the story of the singer's journey to Mexico in search of love and adventure. He is intrigued by the tales of North American girls he has heard and is specifically looking for a woman to have his child. This desire prompts him to board a Pan-American plane and sit beside an All-American dame who tells him about the gold in Mexico City.
Upon landing in Mexico, the singer encounters the customs officials who ask him if he is carrying a gun, taking drugs or is a Communist. Once they deem his papers to be in order, he heads south and settles in a small Mexico town with his lady-love, who is now pregnant. Throughout the song, the singer and his lady speak of a "natural high" due to the blue smoke that is always flying to get one out of their head.
On the surface, "Mexico Gold" is about a man's journey to Mexico to find love, but it's also a commentary on the era in which it was written. During the 1970s, Mexico was a popular destination for those seeking drugs and a different kind of lifestyle. The blue smoke flying mentioned in the lyrics could be a reference to marijuana smoke, and the natural high could be a nod to its effects.
Interestingly, it's not entirely clear whether The Hollies wrote "Mexico Gold" as a tribute to Mexico or as a cautionary tale about the dangers of chasing adventure in another country. The song's lyrics contain both positive and negative elements: the beauty of the North American girls versus the dangers of drug use and crossing borders illegally.
Overall, "Mexico Gold" is a moody, evocative piece of music that captures a moment in time - specifically, the 70s fascination with Mexico and its culture.
Line by Line Meaning
Thought I'd take a trip down to the old world
I decided to travel to North America
'cause I heard a lot of things about the North American girls
I heard many stories about the women in North America
I was looking for a lady
I was seeking a woman
someone to have my baby
someone to have a child with me
So I got me on a 747 Pan-American plane
I boarded a Pan-American plane
I sat me down next to your all-American dame
I sat next to an American woman
Said I'm going up north
I told her I'm heading North
she said it's a pity
She expressed regret
Then she told about the gold
Then she talked about gold
down in Mexico City
found down in the city of Mexico
Oh she said "Lordy Lordy
She exclaimed
watch the blue smoke flying
Watch the psychedelic effects
every morning and every night
That occur every day and night
to get you out of your head
To experience altered state of consciousness
Oh man oh Lordy Lordy it's a natural high
It's a natural psychedelic experience
when you're living down south
When you live in the southern area
and it's going right out of your head
And it's euphoric effect is very strong
Got off the plane went to the customs
I disembarked the plane and went to customs
and they gave me a list
They gave me a checklist
Do you carry a gun take drugs or are you Communist
They asked if I had a weapon or drugs, or if I was a Communist
They said my papers were in order
They said my documents were in order
I wasn't staying long no sir
I wasn't planning on staying long
I'm going south across the border
I'm crossing the border to go South
Took the first southbound
I boarded the first South-bound transportation
across the Rio and down
Across the Rio Grande and down South
Found a little place in the small Mexico town
Found a small place in a town in Mexico
Just me and my lady
Just myself and my partner
now she's having my baby
Now she will have my child
Contributed by Lauren V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Philip Kassabian
on Carrie Anne
A nice and catchy song by The Hollies.
Philip Kassabian
on Bus Stop
Yet another great Hollies song.
Philip Kassabian
on Stop Stop Stop
One of the best bands from the 60's no doubt.