I read this quote in the paper a couple of days ago, and thought it was heavy on the awesome. It’s Sam Beckett from Worstward Ho:
“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
I found this track from Ray Wylie Hubbard today.
So screw you, we’re from Texas
Screw you, we’re from Texas
Screw you, we’re from Texas
We’re from Texas baby, so screw you
And I gotta say, I enjoyed it.
One of the nice things about being a songwriter in Texas (besides the company, the constant stream of musicians, and the plethora of cheap dive bars) is that you get access to a whole lot of imagery and bravado that’s hard to come by in, say, Missouri.
“Screw you, we’re from St. Louis. Screw you, we’re from St. Louis. We built the arch, so screw you.” … you probably see where I’m going here.
This phenomena first came to my attention with this lyric from Terry Allen in the cowboy classic “Amarillo Highway” (made famous by Robert Earl Keen) — which I heard for the first time live at a county fair deep in the heart of Texas under a clear night sky with a Lone Star in my hand:
I don’t wear no Stetson
But I’m willin to bet son
That I’m a big a Texan as you are
I mean. Where else is that phrase going to work? … “I’m as big an Iowan as you are?”
