From the open plains to its bustling cities, Texas has not only been home to many renowned musicians but has also inspired countless songs.
The deep cultural heritage of the Lone Star State is reflected in its music, spanning genres and generations.
Let’s delve into some iconic tracks that take feature the fair state of Texas from a list compiled by The Caller-Times.
“Beautiful Texas” by Willie Nelson
It is hard to find a better tribute to the Lone Star State than Willie Nelson’s “Beautiful Texas” (1968).
The song by one of Texas’ biggest musical legends expresses deep affection for the state’s varied landscapes, from the plains — “Where the beautiful bluebonnets grow” — to the seaside.
A true Texas son, Nelson also shows some local pride: “We’re proud of our forefathers / Who fought at the Alamo.”
“Galveston” by Glen Campbell
Glen Campbell’s anti-war song “Galveston” (1969) is filled with melancholy, longing, and love for a girl he left behind in the coastal city.
“And is she waiting there for me / On the beach where we used to run?” wonders the singer, conveying the intimate thoughts of a young man as he serves in the Vietnam War.
“Amarillo By Morning” by George Strait
“Amarillo by Morning,” (1983) by George Strait paints a vivid portrait of the life of a rodeo cowboy traveling from town to town in a song loaded with the quintessential Texan vibe.
While the life of a rodeo cowboy isn’t always perfect — “They took my saddle in Houston, broke my leg in Santa Fe / Lost my wife and a girlfriend somewhere along the way” — it is the price to pay for freedom: “I ain’t got a dime, but what I got is mine / I ain’t rich, but Lord I’m free.”
“Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?” by George Strait
George Strait’s “Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?” (1984) tells the heartbreaking story of a man incapable of forgetting his lost love, who is in “someone else’s arms in Dallas.”
“Brownsville Girl” by Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan’s “Brownsville Girl” (1986) is a heartfelt tribute to a girl from this southern border town with “Brownsville curls / Teeth like pearls shining like the moon above.”
While notable for its whimsical story of love told across a Western dreamscape in which “memory of you keeps callin’ after me like a rollin’ train,” the song is also a whopping 11 minutes long.
“All My Ex’s [sic] Live in Texas” by George Strait
In a lighthearted nod to the singer’s former lovers scattered across Texas, “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” (1987) encapsulates the state’s vastness by naming towns such as Texarkana, Abilene, Galveston, and Temple.
Yet it also raises some eyebrows with several hints of scandal — “And Dimples, who now lives in Temple’s / got the law looking for me” — that have him hiding away in Tennessee.
“Corpus Christi Bay” by Robert Earl Keen
Robert Earl Keen reminisces about life working on an oil rig and times spent with his brother in “Corpus Christi Bay” (1993).
While most of the song’s musing focus on past decisions, women, and a whole lot of alcohol, the focus is on the undeniable allure of the bay: “If I could live my life all over / It wouldn’t matter anyway / ‘Cause I never could stay sober / On the Corpus Christi Bay.”
“Flawless” by Beyoncé
Beyoncé’s “Flawless” (2013) offers a stylish nod to the singer’s hometown of Houston — ‘I’m out that H-Town” — in this story of a triumphant return “comin’ down / drippin’ candy on the ground.”
“Texas Time” by Keith Urban
Texas becomes synonymous with a good time in Keith Urban’s “Texas Time” (2018).
This fun tune focuses on Texas’ wild side — “We can howl at the moon like a wild coyote” — characterized by “Whiskey, women and wine.”
“Texas Sun” by Leon Bridges and Khruangbin
Considering that the first album pairing soul and R&B musician Leon Bridges with the rock band Khruangbin was named “Texas Moon,” this song “Texas Sun” (2020) appears as the perfect follow-up.
The lyrics conjure the image of Texas’ long highways and a journey brimming with possibility: “from Fort Worth to Amarillo / Come on, roll with me ’til the sun dips low.”