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

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

4:55

The Road To Ensenada, 1996

Written by Lyle Lovett, Willis Alan Ramsey, and Alison Rogers

The Texas Tourism Board used this light-hearted song in ads for Texas.  With rollicking boogie-woogie piano and steel guitar, this is a catchy, tongue-in-cheek celebration of Texas pride and a gentle jab at outsiders playing cowboy. Lovett also tips his hat in the lyrics to Uncle Walt's Band, a South Carolina group that Lovett was a fan of and became part of Austin's musical scene: "Those boys from Carolina / They sure enough could sing / But when they came on down to Texas / We all showed them how to swing." It's funny, affectionate, and quintessentially Lovett, and despite the Texas Tourism Board, more amused than boastful about Texas exceptionalism.

L.A. County - Lyle Lovett

L.A. County - Lyle Lovett

3:19

Pontiac, 1988

Written by Lyle Lovett

A ballad of the road: a man and a woman travel to California.  "Well he did not say much / But one year later / He'd ask her to be his wife."  The lights of L.A. twinkle like diamonds, romance is in the air.  Isn't that sweet?  Well, no.  Apparently, the "she" of the song is the narrator's wife, and he comes to tell them goodbye with a sweet black .45 by his side.  Grim!  It's a jaunty, bouncy tune, the music belying the murder ballad that hides beneath.

Church - Lyle Lovett

Church- Lyle Lovett

6:01

Joshua Judges Ruth, 1992

Written by Lyle Lovett

By far the longest song covered on this blog so far, the previous record holder being Melanie's "Ring the Living Bell" at 5:04.  This is a story song, appropriately enough about a preacher who goes on with her sermon way too long.  So the narrator climbs up onto the balcony and shouts, "To the Lord let praises be / It's time for dinner now let's go eat / We've got some beans and some good cornbread."  Lovett's wry sense of humor and a rousing gospel chorus keep this song, like the cornbread, from going stale.