Lone Star Blues - Delbert McClinton

At a truck stop in San 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

I heard he’d killed a couple of men

I figured this was somethin' I could win

Cause the devil was on my side

I was havin' myself one hell of a ride

But I ended up disqualified

That danged old bull just up and died

Before they blew the whistle

When 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

And them west Texas too

I’ve done all I know to do

Tryin' to lose, tryin' to lose

These lone star blues

Got laid off at Brown & Root

Then on my way back to Cut and Shoot

Lost my wristwatch and my boots

Shootin' dice with a dude from Houston

Ain’t no jobs here workin' cattle

So I got on part time haulin' gravel

With some outfit from Seattle

Down here buildin' custom homes

When 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

And them west Texas too

I’ve done all I know to do

Tryin' to lose, tryin' to lose

These lone star blues

Gassed my truck and packed my clothes

Turned in my key and hit the road

I said Cowtown’s where I’ll go

You never know I might get lucky

Got a friend there turning knobs

At a place called Billy Bob’s

He said he could get me a job there

Workin' as a bouncer

First night on the job was just insane

Some ol' boy got all deranged

Hit me in the head with a Harley chain

To this day my ears still ring

When 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

And them west Texas too

I’ve done all I know to do

Tryin' to lose, tryin' to lose

These lone star blues