Image and Story by Warrigal Mirriyuula

Mexico had always loomed large in the American consciousness as a kind of Altered States of America; where life is slower, easier; and death, a festive celebration. A place of escape and escapism where weed is cheap and strong and tequila goes down like mother’s milk; a loser’s paradise where the failed American dream can relax and learn to believe that it never mattered in the first place.

Of course, this is not the Mexico of reality and it never was, but none the less America continues to dream of “Fun in Acapulco” while Trump wants to separate them from that dream with a wall, and the drug gangs have made Acapulco the murder capital of the world.

And yet, when their world goes wrong, Americans go to Mexico. Even if it’s only a Mexico of the mind.

“No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problem” Ken Chesney

“Blame it On Mexico” George Strait

“Margaritaville” Jimmy Buffett

“Mexican Divorce” Ry Cooder

“Oh Mexico” James Taylor

“South of The Border” The Doobie Brothers

“South Of The Border” Marty Robbins

“The Ballad of Pancho & Lefty” Emmylou Harris

“That’s Why God Made Mexico” Tim McGraw

“They All Went To Mexico” Carlos Santana and Willie Nelson

“The Sands Of Mexico” The Chieftains and Ry Cooder

“Mexico” Nazareth

“We Are Mexico” Becky G

“The Border”, Rodney Crowell

“Mexico” The Refreshments

“Loco In Acapulco” The Four Tops

“Acapulco Gold”, Cheech and Chong

“Then Came The Last Days Of May” Blue Oyster Cult

“Going Back To Mexico”, Steven Jaymes

“Mexican Bands” Merle Haggard