The song I chose to analyze was “You’re From Texas” by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys. This song is an example of the Western Swing music genre, and was first recorded on July 15, 1942. Although performed by Bob Wills and his 10 Texas Playboy string band members, the lyrics in this song were actually written by Cindy Walker. The influence of Bob Wills and his Texan background shine through this song.
Bob Wills’ life both started and ended in Texas; he was born near Kosse, TX and later died in Fort Worth, TX. Bob Wills grew up playing the fiddle and mandolin, which are two popular instruments used in Western Swing music. In the height of his musical career, he became well known as “The King of Western Swing”.
As you listen to the recording of “You’re From Texas”, it is important to note that in this particular song, the lead singer is a man named Tommy Duncan who recorded songs and toured with Bob Wills as a part of his string band until the early 1960s. Bob Wills shines through this song by playing the fiddle you hear in the background.
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 it’s 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 sunflowers
Your eyes are blue bonnet blue
Shake hands it’s grand that you’re from Texas
Cause I’m from Texas too
This song uses a lot of imagery that relates to Texan symbols and ideals. For example, the lyric “Your eyes are blue bonnet blue” is significant because the bluebonnet is the state flower of Texas. The song also talks about Bob Will’s cattle range and acres of crops.
The Texas imagery is prevalent even before listening to this song through its iconic album cover. Below you will see images including cowboy hats (the state hate of Texas), cowboy boots, Texan scarves, also known as “wild rags”, the outline of the state of Texas, and a cowboy on horseback. These images are strong symbols of Texan culture and were held close to this artist’s heart.
In my opinion, this song has a strong sense of Texan pride, but also has undertones of the conditional or wary friendliness that we discussed in class. For instance, Bob Wills sings, “I allow as how you’re from Texas because the lingo I understand, I’ll bet my cale that you hail from Texas there’s no mistaking the brand”. In this lyric, Wills is basically saying that I accept you because you speak like a Texan and you carry the appearance of a Texan. Some of the language in this song is unfamiliar, such as the expression “I’ll bet my cale”, which I assumed to simply mean “I’ll bet”.
In summary, I believed this song to be a symbol of Texas hospitality in the sense that Texans accept fellow Texans in a way that they may not for other groups of people.
Sources:
“Handbook of Texas.” TSHA, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook.
“Bob Wills.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Wills.
“Wills, James Robert.” Oklahoma Historical Society | OHS, https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry.php?entry=WI020.
“Youre from Texas Chords – Bob Wills – Cowboy Lyrics.” Country Lyrics, Chords and Tabs Source #1 – CowboyLyrics.com, https://www.cowboylyrics.com/tabs/wills-bob/youre-from-texas-276.html.
