LONE STAR BLUES
Delbert McClinton


At a truck stop in St Angelo,
I saw a billboard 'bout this rodeo,
Last weekend out in El Paso,
So I signed up to ride.

I drew a bull called Original Sin,
Heard he'd killed a couple of men.
Figured this was somethin' I could win,
'Cause the devil's on my side.

I was havin' myself one hell of a ride,
When I ended up disqualified,
'Cause that danged old bull just up an' died,
Before they blew the whistle.

An' I got them North Texas blues,
Thought I'd paid all my dues.
Then them South Texas blues,
Told me son you ain't through.
Had them East Texas blues,
An' then West Texas too.
I've done all I know to do,
To try to lose,
To try to lose these lone star blues.

I got laid off at Brown and Root,
On my way back to Cut and Shoot,
I lost my wristwatch an' my boots,
Shootin' dice with a dude from Houston.

There ain't no jobs here workin' cattle,
So I got on part-time hauling gravel,
With some outfit from Seattle,
Down here building custom homes.

Well, I got them North Texas blues,
Thought I'd paid all my dues.
Then them South Texas blues,
Told me son you ain't through.
Had them East Texas blues,
An' then West Texas too.
I've done all I know to do,
Tryin' to lose,
Tryin' to lose these lone star blues.

Instrumental break.

I gassed up my truck an' I packed my clothes.
Turned in my key and I hit the road.
I said Cow Town's where I'll go:
You never know, I might get lucky.

I got a friend there turnin' knobs,
At this place called Billy Bob's.
Said he could get me a job there,
Working as a bouncer.

First night on the job was just insane,
Some old boy got all deranged.
Hit me in the head with a Harley chain,
To this day, my ears still ring.

I got them North Texas blues,
Thought I'd paid all my dues.
Then them South Texas blues,
Told me son you ain't through.
Had them East Texas blues,
An' then West Texas too.
I've done all I know to do,
Tryin' to lose,
Tryin' to lose these lone star blues.

I've done all I know to do,
Tryin' to lose,
Tryin' to lose these lone star blues.