James McMurtry
James McMurtry (born March 18, 1962 in Fort Worth, Texas) is a Texas rock/T… Read Full Bio ↴James McMurtry (born March 18, 1962 in Fort Worth, Texas) is a Texas rock/Texas Country singer, songwriter, guitarist, bandleader and occasional actor (Daisy Miller, Lonesome Dove). He performs as James McMurtry And The Heartless Bastards with veteran bandmates and rhythm section Darren Hess and Ronnie Johnson (not to be confused with the Cincinnati, OH, band Heartless Bastards).

The son of acclaimed author Larry McMurtry (Lonesome Dove, Terms of Endearment), James grew up on a steady diet of Johnny Cash and Roy Acuff records. His first album, Too Long in the Wasteland (released in 1989), was produced by John Mellencamp and marked the beginning of a series of acclaimed projects for Columbia and Sugar Hill. In 1996, McMurtry received a Grammy nomination for his Longform Music Video of Where'd You Hide The Body. 1997's It Had To Happen received the American Indie Award for Best Americana Album.

In 2004, McMurtry released the universally-lauded Live in Aught-Three on Compadre Records. 2005's Childish Things garnered some of the highest critical praise of McMurtry's career and spent six weeks at No. 1 on the Americana Music Radio Chart in 2005 and 2006. In September 2006, Childish Things and "We Can't Make It Here" won the Americana Music Awards for Album and Song of the Year, respectively. McMurtry received more Americana Music Award nominations for 2008's Just Us Kids. This album marked his highest Billboard 200 chart position in more than 19 years.

In 2009, Live in Europe was released, capturing The McMurtry Band's first European tour and extraordinary live set. Along with seasoned band members Ronnie Johnson, Daren Hess, and Tim Holt, the disc features special guests Ian McLagan and Jon Dee Graham. Also, for the first time ever, video of the James McMurtry Band's live performance is available on the included DVD.

The poignant lyrics of his immense catalog still ring true today. In 2011, "We Can't Make It Here" was cited among 'The Nation's' "Best Protest Songs Ever." Bob Lefsetz writes, "'We Can't Make It Here' has stood the test of time because of its unmitigated truth."

Never one to rest on his laurels, James McMurtry continues to tour constantly, and consistently puts on a "must-see" powerhouse performance. 'The Washington Post' noted McMurtry's live prowess: "Much attention is paid to James McMurtry's lyrics, and rightfully so: He creates a novel's worth of emotion and experience in four minutes of blisteringly stark couplets. What gets overlooked, however, is that he's an accomplished rock guitar player. At a sold-out Birchmere, the Austin-based artist was joined by drummer Daren Hess and bassist Ronnie Johnson in a set that demonstrated the raw power of wince-inducing imagery propelled by electric guitar. It was serious stuff, imparted by a singularly serious band."

JAMES McMURTRY LIVE IN EUROPE CD WITH BONUS DVD DOCUMENTS FIRST EURO TOUR WITH GUESTS IAN MCLAGAN AND JON DEE GRAHAM
On October 13, 2009, Lightning Rod Records released Live in Europe, a document of McMurtry's first European tour, on which, along with long-time band members Ronnie Johnson, Daren Hess, and Tim Holt, he was joined by keyboardist Ian McLagan and fellow Texas songwriting legend Jon Dee Graham. The set is available as a CD with a bonus DVD, or as a deluxe vinyl LP package with a CD and DVD insert. In early 2009, James McMurtry and his trio traveled overseas to play their first European tour. The guys played for enthusiastic crowds in Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Scotland and Belgium. Joining the band on keyboards for the tour was the legendary Ian McLagan (who also played on McMurtry's latest studio album, Just Us Kids). The best recordings from the Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Geislingen, Germany concerts were combined to create Live in Europe. The album includes a bonus DVD featuring performances from the Amsterdam show. This marks the first time fans will be able to purchase video footage of McMurtry live in concert. The deluxe vinyl version includes inserted copies of the CD and DVD. Fellow Austin-based songwriter Jon Dee Graham opened the shows and joins the band on a version of his tune "Laredo" on the bonus DVD.

JAMES McMURTRY ALBUMS REISSUED: 'CHILDISH THINGS' & 'LIVE IN AUGHT-THREE'
On February 1, 2011, two of James McMurtry's most popular albums, Childish Things and Live in Aught-Three were reissued by Lightning Rod Records. Live in Aught-Three has been remastered since its original 2004 release and will be available on vinyl for the first time. The deluxe double LP also includes a copy of the album on CD.
ALBUMS TRACK LIST SIMILAR ARTISTS
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found

James McMurtry Lyrics


12 O'Clock Whistle the air raid siren at the high school blew every weekday, tw…
60 Acres Turned off the TV, sat down to dinner Phone rang, we…
Airline Agent Mr. airline agent won't you understand I'm a frequent trave…
Angeline Angeline, Angeline, darker nights I've never seen I don't …
Bad Enough Where have been? I don?t want to know Probably some place…
Bayou Tortous A Good idea 'til your will is due Is go out…
Bayou Tortue Got a idea tell you what let's do Let's go out…
Be With Me are you who you look like or are you just yourself are…
Blackberry Winter I don't know what went wrong I ain't known you that…
Broken Bed Where'd you go last night? I never heard you leaving I woke…
Candyland Ugly pictures on the wall Traffic outbound slowing to a cra…
Canola Fields I was thinking 'bout you, crossing Southern Alberta Canola f…
Charlemagne's Home Town I?ve got it all to myself now Crack the window just…


Cheney Another unknown soldier Another lesson learned Kicked the ga…
Childish Things Aunt Clara kept her bible right next to the phone In…
Choctaw Bingo Strap them kids in, give 'em a lil bit of…
Comfortable You never know when You leave the house You might come hom…
Crazy Wind Gone off in the pitch-black dark To work the morning…
Decent Man He was more than just a decent man, best friend…
Don't Waste Away Is that smile for me? Did You come by it honestly? Can…
Down Across The Delaware Bills are paid but it makes no difference To the gods…
Dry River McMurtry-Alvin I was born by a river that was paved with…
Every Little Bit Counts My thoughts were gnawing at me so I tried hard…
Fast As I Can He was a drinking man with a guitar problem Didn't have…
Fire Line Road My name is Alice Walker, they never told me why I'm…
For All I Know Last time I saw you it could've been Christmas eve it could'…
Fraulein O Last time I saw you it could've been Christmas eve it coul…
Freeway View I got a room with a freeway view I'm only home…
Ft. Walton Wake She woke up mad, she's tryna pick a fight Got a…
Fuller Brush Man When I was maybe three or four The Fuller Brush man…
God Bless America Look yonder comin', mercy me Three wise men in a SUV Corpora…
Gone To The Y McMurtry Hey, little brother, are they at it again ? You…
Good Life Got two cars and a chainlink fence Got insurance for acciden…
Gulf Road Not a hot cup of coffee, nor a cold glass…
Hands Like Rain Slowly crawling 'cross the floor Comes a shadow through the…
Holiday The in-laws are waiting the games have begun The cell phone…
How'm I Gonna Find You Now I've got a cup of black coffee so I don't…
Hurricane Party The hurricane party's windin' down and we're all waitin' fo…
I I've got a cup of black coffee so I don't…
I Only Want To Talk To You Someone saw, someone said Slightly misconstrued All hell b…
I'm Not From Here I'm not from here I just live here Grew up somewhere far…
If It Don't Bleed Looking back down the road from a little ways out I…
Im Not From Here I'm not from here I just live here Grew up somewhere far…
Iolanthe Your mother used to take the cure She kept plastic on…
Jackie Half a section in the short grass at the foot…
Jaws Of Life Questions in the eyes of the precious few It's like they…
Just Us Kids I've had enough of this small town bullshit I'm not stayin'…
Levelland Flatter than a tabletop Makes you wonder why they stopped he…
Lights of Cheyenne Look off down the highway at the glittering lights Like wi…
Lobo Town McMurtry Grand Daddy's good name Fits like a shackle and…
Lost in the Back Yard I said "this is the last time" A few times ago But…
Melinda Don't expect no favors, nothing in return Tell all your cros…
Memorial Day Mama keeps tryin? to get the game on the radioDaddy?s…
No More Buffalo I guess we knew the cards were stacked started out the…
Off And Running Answer me when I call to you What became of the…
Ole Slew Foot Coming down the mountain boys what do I see Bear tracks…
One More Winter You come back now, looking for a clue Expecting everybody to…
Operation Never Mind We got an operation goin' on And it don't have to…
Out Here in the Middle They broke into your car last night, took the stereo Now you…
Outskirts Light snow falling On the muffler shops and the lumber yard…
Painting By Numbers The gates of the schoolyard are padlocked and chained to kee…
Paris When you land in Paris and they wave you right…
Peter Pan Beer cans to the ceiling ashtray on the floor laundry on the…
Pocatello Picked you up in Pocatello In some truck stop parking lot …
Poor Lost Soul McMurtry You heard the bright lights calling Many years …
Rachel Must be a cold front coming Cause I saw the eastbound…
Rachel's Song Must be a cold front coming Cause I saw the eastbound…
Racing To The Red Light I'll quit my job And leave this place Got a guitar…
Rayolight The streets are emptied out and silent Standing here all stu…
Red Dress Remember when we'd get together Burn the candle don't you kn…
Restless She gets a little restless in the spring She might follow…
Rex's Ride the blue wind high and free She'll lead you down…
Right Here Now If somebody's calling, it don't mean a thing If I don't feel…
Ruby & Carlos Ruby said you're getting us in of world of hurt Down…
Ruins of the Realm Standin' in the middle of a Roman street Marble dust all…
Safe Side Down in Piedras Negras you gotta watch yourself There's a w…
Saint Mary Of The Woods Where you going With your head hung down Papers blowin' thro…
Save Yourself You couldn't get what you were after After all was said…
See the Elephant I saw Pete and Johnny too Dressed up in their Sunday…
Shining Eyes McMurtry When a telephone rings in an empty room Does it…
Six-Year Drought I guess you had your reasons For the way you used…
Sixty Acres Turned off the tv Sat down to dinner Phone rang, we were…
Slew Foot Coming down the mountain boys what do I see Bear tracks…
Soda And Salt Mamma come runnin' Daddy come quick I think I swallowed so…
Song for a Deck Hand's Daughter McMurtry He'd always whistle Jolie Blonde On his way out…
St. Mary of the Woods Where you going With your head hung down Papers blowin' thro…
Stancliff's Lament Too old to work for wages No time left to kill Put…
Storekeeper chorus No shoes, no shirt, no service Reads the sign…
Talkin At The Texaco Well if you're lookin' for a good time You're a little…
Terry McMurtry Terry's off the track Sent him away and he won'…
The Governor Does the Governor know who killed the fishermen? On the lak…
The Horses and the Hounds When the white oak leaves are rustling 'round the courtyard …
The Old Part of Town (Peter Case) Last night I wandered punch drunk & enraptur…
Tired of Walking They went about it in the wrong way I'da told 'em,…
Too Long In The Wasteland Hear the trucks on the highway, And the tickin' of…
Twelve O'clock Whistle the air raid siren at the high school blew every weekday, tw…
Vague Directions This place you say you're looking for That's a place I…
Valley Road McMurtry Short tables, no slop eight ball Line of crank …
Vaquero I don't take the paper, I don't watch TV I was…
Walk Between the Raindrops Don't know what's gotten into you Must be something in your…
We Can There's a Vietnam Vet with a cardboard sign Sitting there by…
What's the Matter The phone's on the dash, the goddamned thing It's one of…
Where'd You Hide The Body You look across the table with those guilty eyes So many…
Where's Johnny Young Johnny, he really had a way He did his homework…
Wild Man From Borneo I′m the star of Captain Midnight's traveling show Came to th…
You'd a Thought I'm runnin' 'round in circles and I'm chasin' my tail Carvi…


More Versions