Texas

Album: The Road To Hell (1989)
Charted: 69
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song, the English bloke who is the central character in Rea's Road To Hell album is thinking about Texas, and how wonderful it would be to life there, away from crowds and traffic. In Chris Rea's view, this guy's rose-colored view of Texas is misguided. "He's going for that big Western apple in the sky," he said in the book Classic Albums. "He's thinking it should be like Texas, and he's thinking of large, cheap steaks, every woman is 6' 4" and has massive legs and looks like Jerry Hall, there's no trouble because they say there's no trouble. But really, if you've been there, it's even three times more violent. And it is, it's poison on top of poison."
  • The mellow soundscape is driven by a Fender Rhodes piano to evoke the thoughts of the main character, who is lulled into thinking of Texas as a panacea.

Comments: 7

  • Bwright from OhioThere seems more to story than that
    Is the man the stepfather to the 2 children?
    Is that why he followed?
    Or is the other man rescuing her and the children?
  • Barbara from Austin TexasI moved here 30 years ago after moving around alot. I was looking for a place where people could live together with a sense of unity . I found it here. I try to promote it every day. We've got to live together.
  • Charles A Texan from Central Texas Cedar ParkWhatever you think about Texas it’s better I’ll put it up against any imagination the person who wrote this explicative could come up with. All of God’s people come from or get to Texas at sometime in their life
  • Livassao from The WorldIt's about leaving old DDR, East Germany and move to Texas
  • Rick James from Pensacola, FlWhy does Chris Rea have two completely different songs called “Texas “?
  • Rockwall Texan from TexasLove the song, but not the comment above saying it's violent and poison. TEXAS is incredible. As with most places it is diverse and depends where you visit. It is to big too describe, and unless a person takes years to explore it one really can't understand it.
    Texas like no other place on earth,, Texas thats the place to be!
  • Tejano from Texaa It’s not about an English bloke ya limey, it’s a Deutschlander in Deutschland. Look at the video .
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Timothy B. Schmit of the Eagles

Timothy B. Schmit of the EaglesSongwriter Interviews

Did this Eagle come up with the term "Parrothead"? And what is it like playing "Hotel California" for the gazillionth time?

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Little Big Town

Little Big TownSongwriter Interviews

"When seeds that you sow grow by the wicked moon/Be sure your sins will find you out/Your past will hunt you down and turn to tell on you."

Dino Cazares of Fear Factory

Dino Cazares of Fear FactorySongwriter Interviews

The guitarist/songwriter explains how he came up with his signature sound, and deconstructs some classic Fear Factory songs.

Dave Edmunds

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."