In the morning I’ll be leaving Texas and going back home to California.
The funny thing is, when you’re born in Texas as I was, you can’t help having a weird loyalty to the dang state. “Texan” is ingrained into your genetic code, even if you haven’t lived here for 38 years and have no desire to live here in the future– despite your parents asking you every 15 minutes, “When are you moving back to Texas?” Love you, Mom!
I say “hook ’em horns!” and give the longhorn hand signal–a very offensive gesture in some cultures, so don’t chance it outside the state–when I see a Texas license plate. I know the Texas state song (Texas, our Texas), motto (Friendship), nickname (The Lone Star State), bird (mockingbird), mammal (armadillo or Texas longhorn, depending on who you ask), and flower (bluebonnet). I even know how to square dance (do-si-do allemande left).
So in honor of the great state of Texas, here’s an old cowboy song. Y’all click the play button and have a listen. Sing along. Shoot heck, I think I’m gettin’ kinda misty-eyed.
Old Texas (The Cowboy’s Lament)
I’m going to leave old Texas now
They’ve got no place for the longhorn cow
They’ve roped and fenced all over the range
And the people there are all so strange
I’ll take my horse and I’ll take my rope
And hit the trail upon a lope
I’ll bid adios to the Alamo
I’ll turn my head down to Mexico
I’m going to leave old Texas now
They’ve got no place for the longhorn cow
They’ve roped and fenced all over the range
And the people there are all so strange.
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