Lyle Lovett - That's Right (You're Not From Texas)

Being new to Texas, I've found myself surrounded by gracious, welcoming Texans.  That seems to be a trait here, and it was captured perfectly by a comment that Southern Belle left to this post:

I can tell you're settling into Texas just fine these days. You say 'fixin', you are an honorary Texan.

Lyle Lovett captures this, too. Lovett, of course, is a real Texan, born and bred.  So much so that a couple years back he got caught by a bull on his Uncle's ranch, and rammed into the fence.  Ouch.

Lovett has been recording Country music since 1980.  His has never been the over-produced, over-commercial Nashville style.  Instead, his Muse leads him to a more quirky - and much more interesting - broad ranging style.  In this he seems a bit like a different Texan, Willie Nelson.  But Lovett's quirky style hasn't just led him to 4 Grammys, it's given us this, which (perhaps due to its use in wide spread tourism advertising) seems to have entered the collective Texan culture.  Nothing wrong with that.



That's Right (You're Not From Texas) (Songwriters: Lovett, Ramsey, Rogers)

You say you're not from Texas
Man as if I couldn't tell
You think you pull your boots on right
And wear your hat so well

So pardon me my laughter
'Cause I sure do understand
Even Moses got excited
When he saw the promised land

That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

See I was born and raised in Texas
And it means so much to me
Though my girl comes from down in Georgia
We were up in Tennessee

And as we were driving down the highway
She asked me baby what's so great
How come you're always going on
About your Lone Star State

I said that's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

Oh the road it looked so lovely
As she stood there on the side
And she grew smaller in my mirror
As I watched her wave goodbye

Those boys from Carolina
They sure enough could sing
But when they came on down to Texas
We all showed them how to swing

Now David's on the radio
And old Champ's still on the guitar
And Uncle Walt he's home with Heidi
Hiding in her loving arms

That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

They're OK in Oklahoma
Up in Arkansas they're fair
But those old folks in Missouri
They don't even know you're there

But at a dance hall down in Texas
That's the finest place to be
The women they all look beautiful
And their men will buy your beer for free

And they'll say that's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

So won't you let me help you Mister
Just pull your hat down the way I do
And buy your pants just a little longer
And next time somebody laughs at you

You just tell 'em you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway

That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
That's right you're not from Texas
But Texas wants you anyway