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Makes you wonder why they stopped here
Wagon must have lost a wheel
Or they lacked ambition one
In the great migration west
Separated from the rest
Though they might have tried their best
They never caught the sun
So they sunk some roots down in this dirt
To keep from blowin' off the earth
Built a town right here
When the dust had all but cleared
They called it Levelland
Levelland
Levelland
Grand dad grew the dry land wheat
Stood on his own two feet
His mind got incomplete
And they put him in a home
Daddy's cotton grows so high
Sucks the water table dry
His rolling sprinklers circle back
Bleeding it to the bone
And I won't be here when it comes the day
It all dries up and blows away
I'd hang around just to see
But they never had much use for me
In Levelland
They don't understand me
In Levelland
Well I watch those ships trails comin' out that big blue sky
Coast to coasters, watch 'em go
And I don't blame 'em one damn bit
If they never look down on this
Ain't much down here they'd want to know
Just Levelland
You could wash your hands
In nothin' but Levelland
Mama used to roll her hair
Back before the central air
We'd sit outside and watch the stars at night
She tell me to make a wish
I'd wish we both could fly
I don't think she's seen the sky
Since we got the satellite dish
I can hear the marching band
Doing the best they can to play
Smoke on the water
And joy to the world
I payed up all my debts
Got some change left over yet
I'm getting on a whisper jet
Going to fly as far as I can get
From Levelland
Done the best I can
In Levelland
I don't think she's seen the sky
Since we got the satellite dish.
This line reminds me of a house we often passed when I was growing up. It was a modest ranch house on the top of hill with a clear view of Lake Michigan in the distance. My dad and I would pass by an observe that despite the gorgeous sunset out on the lake, all the window blinds would be closed. My dad would point to the satellite dish in the front lawn and say (sadly) that the beautiful sunset probably put too much glare on the TV screen.
If I could beat this song to death with a steal bar, it wouldn't see the light of day ever again.
Why use a stolen bar to vent?
I don't much like flat places, but I do love the nice details, the memories of simpler times and less-cluttered lives in this song. Looking at the night sky! I also recall my mother curling her hair, and standing in front of the big window air-conditioner before we had a house with central air... I think that the version of Choctaw Bingo on this record is the best; it's a real ton of fun party song!
Most of my sense of Oklahoma and the Texas panhandle is based on passing through there on a family vacation about 1970 or so. We passed through Floydada, (still recall discussing the origin of the name: Floyd and Ada?) which I read is the actual site that is referred to as Levelland. This song resonates on several levels, as do most of McMurtry's songs.
![West Texas Dust Storm](https://stilllifewithgirl.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/lubbock-dust-storm-10_17_2011.jpg)
I grew up listening to McMurch and caught him after a show and we had a great conversation. My dad had done some work for him before so we had a connection and became friends. I remember going to his house when I was in my early 20s and James taught me how to play Every Little Bit Counts and the main riff for No More Buffalo. We had lunch together with the woman who would later become the mother to my son, this man's lyrics have been narrating parts of my life since I was a teen. Still go to his live shows - although Covid 19 has stopped much of this. He's started doing FB Lives now on his page with PayPal or Venmo links - please support this guy. I need to give him a call and see how he's holding up - love it when RP plays a McMurtry song, brings up so many good memories.
I didn't grow up listening to McMurtry, found him when I was well into the 20s. His music though, has grown me up a bit in several ways I suppose. I also try and see all his live shows (within a 300 mile radius) and have caught him after one. Stumbled on my tongue and didn't become friends. Didn't get him to show me how to play Every Little Bit Counts (learned that one through living rather than guitar pickin) or anything else, so I'm envious there. But likewise, his lyrics have been narrating phases and echoing through my life. I'm looking forward to his new album so much and when he comes through New Mexico in September I'll probably be there, though it'll be hunting season, "with one more weekend to go, and I'd like to kill one more doe..."
You ever been to Levelland?
c.
I have. Many times. James nailed it mostly.
Levelland is a town that sprung up one-day's ride west of Lubbock to serve the three main "industries" back then--
Oilfields
Growing Cotton & Sorghum
Raising Pigs
Very fundamentally religious people too. Stuff like snake handling, no singing in church, no dancing, and speaking in tongues is common around there.
Brown mottling of the teeth is common in the natives due to an abundance of naturally-occurring fluoride in the groundwater.
And it's so windy in the springtime that massive dust storms last as long as the sun is up.
I love me some James. Lived in Park City when he did the SLC gigs and didn't go. Regret it to this day. The venue (Zephyr) was known for it's really good sound board. Spent many a night there in my youth.
c.
Egads. The days before COVID. What's to become of us?
And I turn this song up to 11 - both my rating and the volume.
![sunny](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/sunny.gif)
Since we got the satellite dish.
Actually Keen covers this song. His version was what I heard first and I thought he wrote it for a while. I like both versions.
Man, I'm going to have to look up that Keen version - thanks for the tip.
Actually Keen covers this song. His version was what I heard first and I thought he wrote it for a while. I like both versions.
![{#Smile} {#Smile}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/smiley-smile.gif)
I was going to say Lou Reed
This has a fraternal twin song in Telegraph Road, the masterpiece from Dire Straits.
![Lava Lamp Lava Lamp](https://s4.thingpic.com/images/Th/VNovCkg1UhoDYxYurkchUXqq.jpeg)
ScottishWillie wrote:
Scotland is the place for you. If we could export rain we would all be richer than the Saudis!
Saw him interviewed a few months back - liked the cut of his gib.
![{#Laughing} {#Laughing}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/smiley-laughing.gif)
Texas country is best country!
Highlow
American Net'Zen
Uh...no. It's you. It's definitely you.
![{#Smile} {#Smile}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/smiley-smile.gif)
It's you.
(I don't know what you sound like, btw, so ...)
Wow. I must have heard this song a couple dozen times, and never really listened to the lyrics (it gets busy at work).
But my ears just perked up when I heard the line about water drying up in levelland. Damn. He's talking about me - literally debating moving out of Texas, in part because we're running out of water, and in part out of frustration with the residents and their response to this (more housing developments).
Scotland is the place for you. If we could export rain we would all be richer than the Saudis!
Pop is your thing. We get it.
I like James' stuff. The world needs more singer songwriters who actually have something to say.
(Thought it was fave Canuck anthem-eer Bruce Cockburn at first.)
Wrong wrong wrong, in so many words.
I hear Velvet Underground
I hear James McMurtry.
I hear Velvet Underground
On the CD there's between songs banter where he explains a bit about the song. He starts out "Contrary to popular believe Robert Earl Keen did not write that song...". On the CD it's called "Max's Theorem" he said he wrote the song about his friend Max, a communist who didn't fit in well in Floydada, TX. Max's theorem says that a Good Old Boy can become an Intellectual, but an Intellectual cannot become a Good Old Boy.
Wow. I must have heard this song a couple dozen times, and never really listened to the lyrics (it gets busy at work).
But my ears just perked up when I heard the line about water drying up in levelland. Damn. He's talking about me - literally debating moving out of Texas, in part because we're running out of water, and in part out of frustration with the residents and their response to this (more housing developments).
If you move to southern california it will just be the same thing over again. I think it is all that farmland and not LA specifically though. At what point do they have to drain the Great Lakes for 600 million people and the food necessary to feed them? Man am I a downer today.
Rednecks come from everywhere and the ones that ain't from the South might as well be. Hell... Pennsylvania is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between.
True about rednecks, the South Shore of Boston is full of them.
BTW, I believe James Carville's original quote on one of the Sunday shows was "Pennsylvania is Philadelphia in the east, Pittsburgh in the west, and Kentucky in between."
'Course, he might not have made it up but knowing James he probably did.
not bad.
My point is that "Larry The Cable Guy" is a hack who pretends to be a Deep-Southern redneck in order to entertain same. He's from Nebraska, or some shit. Christ.
![{#Flamed} {#Flamed}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/flamed.gif)
Anyway... James McMurtry puts on one hell of a live show. Well worth the time, you'll enjoy it greatly. Bring earplugs if you can't stand it loud. He can definitely blow your hair back.
Rednecks come from everywhere and the ones that ain't from the South might as well be. Hell... Pennsylvania is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between.
Hah! He mentioned "Coast to Coasters"!!!! Love that radio show!
Highlow
American Net'zen
Yeah, James McMurtry knows how to wring the essence from a place. He doesn't pull any punches either.
Wow. I must have heard this song a couple dozen times, and never really listened to the lyrics (it gets busy at work).
But my ears just perked up when I heard the line about water drying up in levelland. Damn. He's talking about me - literally debating moving out of Texas, in part because we're running out of water, and in part out of frustration with the residents and their response to this (more housing developments).
and your point is?
My point is that "Larry The Cable Guy" is a hack who pretends to be a Deep-Southern redneck in order to entertain same. He's from Nebraska, or some shit. Christ.
![{#Flamed} {#Flamed}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/flamed.gif)
Anyway... James McMurtry puts on one hell of a live show. Well worth the time, you'll enjoy it greatly. Bring earplugs if you can't stand it loud. He can definitely blow your hair back.
![{#Curtain} {#Curtain}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/curtain.gif)
Cool. Someone suggests McMurtry is Reed, and Bill plays a Velvet cover.
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5fHMgiL8ZyM/ThhcMmEZx-I/AAAAAAAABZc/0C65L1P82IY/s1600/lunch%2Blady.jpg)
![{#Curtain} {#Curtain}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/curtain.gif)
That was my first thought... "Is this Lou Reed?"
And that's a compliment... : )
![{#Curtain} {#Curtain}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/curtain.gif)
![{#Cry} {#Cry}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/smiley-cry.gif)
Yeah, James McMurtry knows how to wring the essence from a place. He doesn't pull any punches either.
Also Allen Ginsberg and Orlovsky stopped by on one of their cross-country expeditions I think, so he was hanging with beatniks and proto-hippies when he was a young-'un. I guess they had some influence on him. He's a good songwriter (I'm just discovering him here on RP.)
Crockydile - I'm so sorry this song is painful for you...
![{#Hug} {#Hug}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_hug.gif)
The Zephyr is long gone, which is too bad. Supposedly that had an awesome sound board, which is why he recorded there. Coulda, shoulda, woulda...
Ahh yes! We do miss the old Zephyr here in Salt Lake City. The place smelled like three day old cigarette smoke and stale beer, but always had great diverse acts, cheap drinks, and good sound. That, and you could get right up against the stage if you were feeling brave.
Saw more than a few great shows there...
![{#Cry} {#Cry}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/smiley-cry.gif)
The Zephyr is long gone, which is too bad. Supposedly that had an awesome sound board, which is why he recorded there. Coulda, shoulda, woulda...
takes me back to kpig days
I liked that place
Yeah, he's smart enough to fool everyone into thinking he's Southern. Come on, man.
![{#Stupid} {#Stupid}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_stupid.gif)
and your point is?
![{#Motor} {#Motor}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_motor.gif)
Aww, goddamn!
![{#Rolleyes} {#Rolleyes}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_rolleyes.gif)
Yep. And James as under-rated as his dad is over-.
Back before the central air
We'd sit outside and watch the stars at night
She'd tell me to make a wish
I'd wish we both could fly
Don't think she's seen the sky
Since we got the satellite dish
Says a hell of a lot in a few lines, no? That's McMurtry's genius. And genius he is.
Time sure flies when you're having fun
Wasn't it just yesterday you turned twenty-one?
Does it still matter what you might have done
Had you tried?
Mmm... too much "twang" already some might think. But each to their own!
![{#Yes} {#Yes}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_yes.gif)
Mama used to roll her hair
Back before the central air
We'd sit outside and watch the stars at night
She'd tell me to make a wish
I'd wish we both could fly
Don't think she's seen the sky
Since we got the satellite dish
Yeah, he's smart enough to fool everyone into thinking he's Southern. Come on, man.
![{#Stupid} {#Stupid}](https://img.radioparadise.com/emoji/icon_stupid.gif)
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Given the comment below about Choctaw Bingo, I will need to get this album.
LLRP