There’s something about “The Seashores of Old Mexico” that feels like a daydream you can step into — the kind where the sun hits just right, the air smells like salt, and the world slows down for a while. George Strait has always had a way of turning simplicity into magic, and this song is a perfect example.
Originally written and recorded by Merle Haggard, George brought his own quiet touch to it years later — trading grit for grace, yet keeping that restless heart alive in every line. The story follows a man who leaves behind trouble and pain, heading south toward the unknown, hoping to find peace “on the seashores of old Mexico.” But what makes the song powerful isn’t just the journey — it’s the feeling of starting over, of searching for something that might finally feel like home.
George doesn’t rush a single word here. His voice carries that warm, patient tone — part nostalgia, part confession. You can almost see him standing on a weathered dock, looking out at the horizon, the ocean wind brushing against years of memories and second chances.
In many ways, this song isn’t just about escaping — it’s about arriving. Finding yourself in a place where the noise fades and life gets simple again. Maybe that’s why fans love it so deeply: it’s a song for anyone who’s ever wanted to leave the past behind and let the tide wash them clean.
When George Strait sings it, “The Seashores of Old Mexico” doesn’t just sound like a story — it feels like a sigh, a sunset, and a little bit of forgiveness.
Video
Lyrics
I left out of Tucson with no destination in mind
I was runnin’ from trouble and the jail term, the Judge had in mind
And the border meant freedom, a new life, romance
And that’s why I thought I should go
And start my life over on the seashores of old Mexico
My first night in Juarez, lost all the money I had
One bad senorita made use of one innocent lad
But I must keep on runnin’, it’s too late to turn back
I’m wanted in Tucson, I’m told
Yeah, and things will blow over on the seashores of old Mexico
Two Mexican farmers en route to a town I can’t say
Let me ride on the back of a flatbed half-loaded with hay
Down through Durango, Colima, Almiera
Then in the Manzanillos
Where I slept in the sunshine on seashores of old Mexico
After one long siesta, I came wide awake in the night
I was startled by someone who shadowed the pale moonlight
My new-found companion, one young senorita
Who offered a broken hello
To the gringo she found on the seashores of old Mexico
She spoke of Sonora and swore that she’d never return
For her Mexican husband, she really had no great concern
‘Cause she loved the gringo, my red hair and lingo
That’s all I needed to know
Yeah, I found what I needed on the seashores of old Mexico
Yeah, she loved the gringo, my red hair and lingo
That’s all I needed to know, ha-ha
Yeah, I found what I needed on the seashores of old Mexico