About The Song
“Stays in Mexico” is a song written and recorded by American country music artist Toby Keith. It was released in August 2004 as the lead off single from his compilation album Greatest Hits 2. The song peaked at number 3 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.
The song features a man named Steve, an insurance salesman from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and a woman named Gina, a first-grade school teacher from Phoenix, Arizona. Both are in Cabo San Lucas without their spouses and meet in the Cabo Wabo Cantina. Steve and Gina engage in a tequila-fueled weekend affair. The song’s chorus repeats that “what happens down in Mexico stays in Mexico.”
Kevin John Coyne, reviewing the song for Country Universe, gave it a mixed rating. He stated that the song is “great until you process the depth of its immorality; then, you’re just sick to your stomach.”
The music video was directed by Michael Salomon and premiered on the television network CMT on August 19, 2004. The video was filmed on July 5, 2004, and featured Oklahoma Sooners football administrative coordinator, Matt McMillen and actress Chanel Hart as Gina. It was filmed in Acapulco, Mexico.
“Stays in Mexico” debuted at number 27 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks for the week of August 14, 2004.
Video
Lyrics
His name was Steve
Her name was Gina
You’ve never been here before have you?
They met at a bar called Caboapo Cantina
He was an instant salesman from South Dakota
She was a first grade school teacher Phoenix Arizona
No, my first time here
They started dancing and it got real hot
Then it spilled over to the parking lot
One more tequila they were falling in love
One more is never enough
Don’t bite off more than you can chew
There’s things down here the devil himself wouldn’t do
Just remember when you let it all go
What happens down in Mexico
Stays in Mexico
He woke up in the morning and he made a little telephone call
To check on his wife and his kids back at home in Sioux Falls
She hopped right in the shower with a heavy heavy mind
What am I doing?
He knew it was the first time Gina had ever crossed that line
They walked down to the beach and started drinking again
Jumped into the ocean for a dirty swim
One more margarita they were falling in love
One more is never enough
Don’t bite off more than you can chew
There’s things down here the devil himself wouldn’t do
Just remember when you let it all go
What happens down in Mexico
Stays in Mexico
Oh Mexico
Waiting at the bar at the terminal gate
She says ‘Steve I gotta go, I’m going to miss my plane’
He said one more tequila before you climb on up
She said one more is never enough
Don’t bite off more than you can chew
There’s things down here the devil himself wouldn’t do
Just remember when you let it all go
What happens down in Mexico
Stayed in Mexico
Stays in Mexico
Stays in Mexico
Oh Mexico