Old 97'sare an "alt-country" band originally based in Dallas, Texas. The group formed in 1993 and took their name from a song popularized by Johnny Cash, "Wreck of the Old '97." They describe themselves as a rock band with influences as varied as The Kinks, The Beatles, Pixies, David Bowie, Johnny Cash, and Merle Haggard. The band often performs country standards made famous by the latter two musicians, and has interspersed a number of these on their half-dozen albums over the last decade. Old 97's have been heralded as a great live band, although they claim to never rehearse their act. They included five live songs as a bonus disc on Satellite Rides, and released a live double CD set recorded at historic Gruene Hall in 2005, Alive and Wired.
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W. Tx Teardrops Lyrics

Old 97's

Well the roadmaps of west texas never gave me good advice.
The trains all roll where the roads don't go, now i lay awake at night,
Just wondering where the rest is so i hit that iron gate,
And i yelled good-bye to that wife of mine, i may be running late.

I'm a-rolling on, i'm a-rolling on,
Rolling out past el paso texas, where i might have had a home.
I made my bed, so here i lie.
I'm rolling west texas teardrops in my eye.

Though i felt a lonesome feeling in dulce new mexico,
I was happier than i'd ever been in my el paso home.
But i thought about the woman whom i left to roam the land,
And i cried so much it dug a rut they call the rio grande.

I'm a-rolling on, i'm a-rolling on,
Rolling out past el paso texas, where i might have had a home.
I made my bed, so here i lie.
I'm rolling west texas teardrops in my eye.

And my destination is written upon my feet,
And the stars above are about the only company i keep.
I raise my pass and take my seat.
I'm rolling fast with a teardrop on my cheek.

So i guess there'll be no family, so i guess there'll be no wife.
Gonna roll away on an old steel dray, it's gonna be my life.
And the roadmaps i been reading, i never came to figure out.
All i know is i'd explode by any other route.

I'm a-rolling on, i'm a-rolling on,
Rolling out past el paso texas, where i might have had a home.
I made my bed, so here i lie.
I'm rolling west texas teardrops in my eye.