Mesa Linda

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: Robert Hunter

The first part of Robert Hunter's Alligator Moon suite.

Under the cloak of midnight 'neath an alligator moon
all the way from Corpus Christi in a '50 Coupe de Ville ...
Domino at the wheel, spelled by Cigarette,
me and Melina Marie low in the backseat
Do you know Domino? Have you met Cigarette?
Or Melina - especially Melina - she's a kind of dreamer

from Mesa Linda - lovely mountain
where she counts the falling stars outside her window

Alligator moon ascending in three-quarters round
shine down on Melina as she drives from town to town
Domino and Cigarette, Oh, grant them both an ivory throne
for never thinking twice about leaving well enough alone

leaving well enough alone
leaving well enough alone
leaving well enough alone
leaving well enough alone
leaving well enough alone
on the Mesa Linda

Alligator moon on the horizon
the sun is even having trouble rising
at last it finally gives a bloody glow
'round the time we pull into Arroyo Hondo

Melina breaks into a sigh
"This is where we say good-bye
Our paths may cross via con Dios -
It's been a long winter's night
but spring is well in sight
When it comes we'll have a party
in Arroyo Hondo"

Domino got handy
Tore up the place with a song
Cigarette, dark as night,
before the morning dawned
Melina lets it happen
You know she must've wrote the play
Had better luck in the roundabout
than in the right of way
but, Oh! Melina
I guess things happen that way

Oh! Leave well enough alone
Oh! Leave well enough alone
On Mesa Linda - lovely mountain
Where the moon and stars hang right down to your window
Mesa Linda - about an hour
as the crow flies south from Arroyo Honda
Mesa Linda - such a lovely mountain
Why, you can count the falling stars outside your window
Mesa Linda - my wheels howl by
If I leave well enough alone
I'll live there someday!

Oh - leave well enough alone
Oh - leave well enough alone
Oh - leave well enough alone
Oh - leave well enough alone on the Mesa Linda