The song You‘re from Texas was written by Cindy Walker and was first recorded and released by Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys in 1944.
About Cindy Walker (composer): Cindy Walker, the daughter of a cotton trader, was born on her grandparents’ farm in Mart, Texas (near Mexia, east of Waco) on July 20, 1918. Her maternal grandpa, F.L. Eiland, was a well-known hymn composer, and her mother was an accomplished pianist. Cindy Walker has always loved poetry and has written it on a regular basis since she was a youngster. Walker had the looks of a movie star, but she put her performing career on hold to focus on her music. “Blue Canadian Rockies” was popularized by Gene Autry, “Triflin’ Gal” was popularized by Al Dexter, and “China Doll” was popularized by the Ames Brothers. Bob Wills was a frequent California client for whom she composed over fifty songs, including “Cherokee Maiden,” “Bubbles in My Beer,” and “You’re from Texas.” Ernest Tubb used her for a number of songs, including “Warm Red Wine,” “Two Glasses Joe,” and “Hey Mr. Bluebird.”
There are other contenders for the title of King of Country Music, including Roy Acuff, George Strait, and even Elvis Presley. Yet, of all the nobility, none presided over their chosen sound quite like Bob Wills, the king of Western swing. Growing up in a family has musically tradition and deeply influenced by music, Bob Wills brought in the spirit of an artist from an early age. His father was a state champion fiddler, and several of his siblings were also talented musicians. While residing in Hall County, Texas, the family hosted country dances at their house and also performed at “ranch dances,” which were popular across West Texas. Wills learned to play the fiddle and mandolin at a young age in this environment. He has a passionate love for his homeland and the lands he has traveled through. During his youth he toured many cities in Texas like Texas Panhandle, Roy, Forth Worth and Waco. There Bob Wills music has a special emotional connection with these lands. During his artistic career, he produced a series of famous songs about Texas. Some among those songs have become big hits contributing to his name in the country music hall of fame. The song’s music and lyrics reflect Bob Wills’ experiences growing up in the Southwest, where he encountered Mexican influence. Example ‘Take me back to Tulsa’ and ‘Rose of San Antone’, these song’s music and lyrics reflect Bob Wills’ experiences growing up in the Southwest, where he encountered Mexican influence.
How did they know each other: Walker noticed the Texas Playboys tour bus parked on a street in 1941, when Bob Wills came to Hollywood to film Go West, Young Lady. The tenacious young songwriter, who had meant to ship an envelope of songs to Wills in Tulsa, pounced on the opportunity with typical zest. She stated, “I figured he had to be in Hollywood, so I started phoning all the hotels.” Wills consented to meet with her after Bing Crosby’s version of “Lone Star Trail” had been a hit the year before, and so began a decades-long partnership. Wills recorded four of Walker’s songs at his session on July 24, 1941: “Bluebonnet Lane,” “Cherokee Maiden,” “It’s All Your Fault,” and “Dusty Skies.” Wills engaged Walker to provide all of the songs he would perform in eight Russell Hayden Western musical films when he contracted with Columbia Pictures to participate in eight Russell Hayden Western musical films. He preferred Walker’s less obviously western offerings, such as “Miss Molly” and “That Hot Lick Fiddlin’ Man,” which he co-wrote, off-screen from 1942 to 1944. He also proceeded to record non-western songs by Walker, such as “Sugar Moon” and “Honeymoon Trail,” which were not included in his films.
Lyrics:
Pardon me stranger I hope there’s no danger
You’ll think I’m getting off of my range
Oh but I calculate that you’re from my state
And though you may think its strange
I allow as how you’re from Texas
Because the lingo I understand
I’ll bet my kale that you hail from Texas
There’s no mistaking the brand
You’ve got a smile like an acre of sunflower
Your eyes are blue bonnet blue
Shake hands its grand that you’re from Texas
Cause I’m from Texas too
You’ve got a smile like two acres of sunflower
Your eyes are blue bonnet blue
Shake hands its grand that you’re from Texas
Cause I’m from Texas too
This is a song that expresses the free and open soul of Texas people. the composer wanted to show that she was so in love with and imbued with Texan blood that he could recognize a countryman at first sight. In addition, every detail describing the Texan’s outlook, habits and personalities in his song appears as a poetic image. Through this image we can see the beauty of Texas not only through the scenery but also through the charisma of the people here. Through the first 4 lines we can interpret these as a greeting from writer to a person. Through the sentence: “You’ll think I’m getting off of my range”. We see that he overreacted or overjoyed when she met this stranger. This is not only the joy of meeting a new friend, but the joy of meeting a fellow countryman in a foreign land. this shows his affiliation with her homeland. She was so attached to Texas that just by a gesture, look or a sign she could tell that someone or something was from Texas. The next 4 lines:
“I allow as how you’re from Texas
Because the lingo I understand
I’ll bet my kale that you hail from Texas
There’s no mistaking the brand”
This staunch assertion shows how confident she is in his understanding of Texas. Every slang or simple gesture like a handshake will also come into view to make her recognize his hometown ‘Shake hands its grand that you’re from Texas’.
‘You’ve got a smile like an acre of sunflower
Your eyes are blue bonnet blue’
She described the stranger’s smile as an acre of sunflower. a kind of flower with a bright yellow color that always turns towards the sun. Or blue bonnet blue eyes with a deep blue color like the clear sky on summer days. Through the images above we can see how beautiful and poetic Texas is in the eyes of the author. and this beauty is also reflected in the people here.
work cites:
s.r.l., Rockol.com. “√ ROCKOL – La Musica Online è Qui – Novità Musicali.” Rockol, https://www.rockol.com/uk/lyrics-56443973/bob-wills-youre-from-texas?refresh_ce.
“Cindy Walker: Artist Bio.” Country Music Hall of Fame, https://countrymusichalloffame.org/artist/cindy-walker/.
