Songs of the 50 States



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Songs of Texas

Last update: January 31, 1999


    Certainly no state has inspired more love songs about itself than Texas. It makes me wonder how Texans can be happy with the official state song, "Texas, Our Texas". The following is but a sampling of the fine songs from Texas.

    There is no absolute order to the songs listed below. I welcome any and all suggestions and especially corrections, as well as additional information on any song listed below.

    Songs of love for Texas

  • "When I Die, Just Let Me Go to Texas", by Ed Bruce. IMHO there can be no song that surpasses the love of Texas reflected in this song by Ed Bruce, better known under its cover title, "Texas When I Die". However, this is not for lack of competition--it is simply the best of the best. The covered by Willie Nelson, on TNT by Tanya Tucker, etc.

  • "That's Right, You're not from Texas" by Lyle Lovett
    So much for my humble opinion in the comment above. Lyle has done the impossible and written an even better love song to Texas. What more can I say?

  • "God Blessed Texas", Little Texas

  • "(My Heart is) Texas to a T", Herb Jeffries on Michael Martin Murphey Sagebrush Symphony, Warner Brothers, 9-45834-2. If you don't already own this 1995 album, get it! I highly recommend it. Murhphey recorded this with the San Antonio Symphony Orchestra and several friends.

  • "Coming Back to Texas", Kenneth Threadgill on My Silver-Haired Daddy

  • "Miles and Miles of Texas", Red Steagall (Canfield/Johnston), Texas Red

  • "I Love Texas", Michael Balou

  • "Deep in the Heart of Texas", Bob Wills; also sung by Moe Bandy on A Taste of Texas: Songs 'bout ... (Sony 67938) by Various Artists and certainly by many others

  • "I Love Texas More than You" (David Price, R&D Kirby) and "For Texas (Remember the Alamo)" (David Price) on A Texas Songwriter (Gnoth 120 002-2)

  • "Son of Texas", Chuck Drum, from Chance that Dance

  • Rhino once released a Bob Wills record in the shape of the state of Texas. I don't know which song(s) was/were on the record, but if it meets the other criteria, it could be a hot contender.

  • "Texas Bluebonnets" on Love Chooses You and Earth & Sky: Songs of Laurie Lewis by Laurie Lewis

  • "No Place but Texas" on Texas Super Hits by Various Artists (sorry, I can't tell who actually sings this)

  • "Texas Home" on Breathe the Moonlight by Kimberly M'Carver

  • "Texas I Love You" on Lost and Found by Marty Robbins

  • "Texas in My Rear View Mirror" on Very Best and More by Mac Davis

  • "Texas Is Bigger Than It Used To Be" on Almost Goodbye by Mark Chesnutt

  • "Texas" on Highwaymen II by The Highwaymen (Waylon Jennings/Willie Nelson/Johnny Cash/Kris Kristofferson, Sony 45240) and on A Taste of Texas: Songs 'bout ... (Sony 67938) by Various Artists, sung by the Highwaymen

  • "Texas" on Nightrider and Fiddle Fire -- 25 Years of the Charlie Daniels Band by Charlie Daniels Band

    Beautiful Texas

    Here is a whole album full of songs for and about Texas.

  • "Beautiful Texas" (W. Lee O'Daniel) on Willie Nelson's Beautiful Texas, Bear Family Records BFX 15256, which also features my favorite picture of Willie on the cover. The album contains 14 songs about Texas (or parts thereof).

  • "Texas in My Soul" (Zeb Turner, Ernest Tubb) on Beautiful Texas (see above). ("The rest of the world aint worth a pound of Texas soil.")

  • "There's a Little Bit of Everything in Texas" (Ernest Tubb) on Beautiful Texas (see above).

    Texas regional songs

    Texas has some fine regional songs that do not address the whole state.

  • "The South Coast of Texas", Guy Clark on Craftsman (Philo CD PH 1184/85) -- such a fine double album combining two earlier works -- originally on The South Coast of Texas.

  • "Memories of East Texas" by Michelle Shocked, is a great song, but regional (Short, Sharp, Shocked, Mercury 834-924-2).

    Texas Christmas

    Texas has more Christmas songs than other states have in all categories. Here are some of the best.

  • "Merry Texas Christmas to You", Michael Martin Murphey on Cowboy Christmas -- if you don't own this album, I consider it a must - Warner Bros. 9 25647-2.

  • "The Cowboy Christmas Ball", Michael Martin Murphey on Cowboy Christmas -- if you don't own this album, I consider it a must - Warner Bros. 9 25647-2.

  • "Christmas in Texas", Clinton Gregory on For Christmas SOR-0077.

  • "Santa got lost in Texas", Jeff Carson (author Kenneth Derby) on MCG/Curb. This is a wonderful, somewhat less than serious Christmas song about how Texas got the Lone Star.

    Uncertain terrain

    I don't have/know the following songs. Some are likely just instrumental, which is not the purpose of this page; others might not really be about Texas (as in the category "Not what we're looking for here" below.

  • "Texas 1947" on The Essential Guy Clark by Guy Clark

  • "Texas Barbeque" on Daybreak by Bela Fleck (& the Flecktones)

  • "Texas" on Nordic Roots: A Northside Collection by Various Artists (Northside 6016)

  • "Texas Blues" on The Hits by Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys

  • "Texas Cookin'" on Keepers and The Essential Guy Clark by Guy Clark

  • "Texas Dream Blues (Dreamin' of Texas)" on 1929-33- Barrelhouse Piano Blues Document - Gospel & Blues Series (sorry, I can't tell who actually sings this)

  • "Texas Fiddle Song" on Big City by Merle Haggard

  • "Texas" on The Puritan Sessions by Kenny Baker/Josh Graves

  • "Blue Texas Waltz" by Billy Joe Shaver on A Taste of Texas: Songs 'bout ...

  • "Many A Lonesome Highway" by Rodney Crowell on A Taste of Texas: Songs 'bout ...

  • "Way Down Texas Way" by Asleep at the Wheel on A Taste of Texas: Songs 'bout ...

  • "Texas Lullabye" by David Allan Coe on A Taste of Texas: Songs 'bout ...

    Nope, naw, uh-uh

    Because there are so many good songs about Texas, we can afford to be picky and have a dedicated list of songs that will not be included.

  • Thanks, I can do without "All my exes live in Texas".

  • "Blue Yodel (T for Texas)" by Jimmie Rodgers; this is definitely a Thelma song.

  • "My First Taste of Texas (had blue eyes ...)" by Ed Bruce.



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