Joe Ely
Joe Ely (born February 9, 1947) is an Austin, Texas, honky-tonk/country mus… Read Full Bio ↴Joe Ely (born February 9, 1947) is an Austin, Texas, honky-tonk/country musician. Ely, born in Amarillo, spent his formative years from age 12 in Lubbock, Texas.
Shortly after high school, in 1970, with fellow Lubbock musicians Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, he formed The Flatlanders. According to Ely, "Jimmie was like a well of country music. He knew everything about it. And Butch was from the folk world. I was kinda the rock & roll guy, and we almost had a triad. We hit it off and started playing a lot together. That opened up a whole new world I had never known existed." In 1972, the band released their first and— until 2002's Now Again— only album, but have appeared together on each other's albums. Since the band's initial break-up just after their album was cut, the three musicians have followed individual paths.
Ely's own first album, self titled, was released in 1977. The following year, his band played London where he met punk rock group The Clash. Impressed with each other's performances, the two bands would later tour together, including appearances in Ely's hometown of Lubbock, as well as Laredo and Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, across the border from El Paso, Texas.
Since then, a steady stream of albums have followed, most on the MCA label. Ely's live performances have become legendary, and he has released a live album roughly every ten years (the last was Live at Antone's in 2000). He has had a genre-crossing career, performing with Bruce Springsteen, Los Super Seven, David Grissom, and James McMurtry in addition to his early work with The Clash and more recent acoustic tours with Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, and Guy Clark.
In the late 1990s, Ely was asked to write songs for Robert Redford's movie The Horse Whisperer, which led to reforming The Flatlanders with Gilmore and Hancock for an appearance on the movie soundtrack. A new album from the trio followed in 2002, with a third in 2004.
In February 2007, Ely released "Happy Songs From Rattlesnake Gulch" on his own label, Rack 'Em Records. A book of Ely's writings was published in early 2007 by the University of Texas Press. Ely also released a second album of old lyrics that he has finally recorded.
Several other reissues of Ely's previous work were due out later in 2007 on Rack 'Em.
Shortly after high school, in 1970, with fellow Lubbock musicians Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock, he formed The Flatlanders. According to Ely, "Jimmie was like a well of country music. He knew everything about it. And Butch was from the folk world. I was kinda the rock & roll guy, and we almost had a triad. We hit it off and started playing a lot together. That opened up a whole new world I had never known existed." In 1972, the band released their first and— until 2002's Now Again— only album, but have appeared together on each other's albums. Since the band's initial break-up just after their album was cut, the three musicians have followed individual paths.
Ely's own first album, self titled, was released in 1977. The following year, his band played London where he met punk rock group The Clash. Impressed with each other's performances, the two bands would later tour together, including appearances in Ely's hometown of Lubbock, as well as Laredo and Ciudad Juarez in Mexico, across the border from El Paso, Texas.
Since then, a steady stream of albums have followed, most on the MCA label. Ely's live performances have become legendary, and he has released a live album roughly every ten years (the last was Live at Antone's in 2000). He has had a genre-crossing career, performing with Bruce Springsteen, Los Super Seven, David Grissom, and James McMurtry in addition to his early work with The Clash and more recent acoustic tours with Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt, and Guy Clark.
In the late 1990s, Ely was asked to write songs for Robert Redford's movie The Horse Whisperer, which led to reforming The Flatlanders with Gilmore and Hancock for an appearance on the movie soundtrack. A new album from the trio followed in 2002, with a third in 2004.
In February 2007, Ely released "Happy Songs From Rattlesnake Gulch" on his own label, Rack 'Em Records. A book of Ely's writings was published in early 2007 by the University of Texas Press. Ely also released a second album of old lyrics that he has finally recorded.
Several other reissues of Ely's previous work were due out later in 2007 on Rack 'Em.
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Joe Ely Lyrics
95 South 95 South, 95 South 95 South from Portland, Maine When am I…
A Flood on Our Hands The rivers are swollen We got a flood on our hands Get…
A Man and His Dog THERE IS A MAN AND HIS DOG IN THE ALLEY THEY'RE…
All Just To Get To You I have stumbled on the plains, staggered in the wind Stood…
All My Love All my love Baby, turn the key All my love Say you'll stay…
All That You Need I been workin' on the farm Just me and my brother…
All You Are Love IT MIGHT NOT MEAN MUCH TO YOU BABE, BUT IT MEANS…
Are You Listenin There she was Way down South She scared me to death She k…
Are You Listenin' Lucky? There she was, Way down South She scared me to death She Kno…
B.B.Q. & Foam Remember the night the soul band blasted? Nothing in the wor…
Baby Needs A New Pair Of Shoes All my people need food and water And Baby needs a…
BBQ And Foam Remember the night the soul band blasted? Nothing in the wor…
Because Of The Wind Do you know why the trees bend At the west Texas…
Behind The Bamboo Shade In a border town when the lights go down And the…
Bet Me Bet me your last nickel that the neon shines tonight Bet…
Boxcars Well I gave all my money to the banker this…
Buildin When I first met her she had fire in her…
Burden Of Your Load I was talking to the gypsy about our next of…
Carnival Bum The carnival is closed for the winter The gates are full…
Character Flaw It's pride against money Love against pride Driving all th…
Circumstance All of what i feel - and for all i…
Cold Black Hammer Pulls black blood from the ground She swings a cold black…
Cool Rockin Hey operator, cancel the phone call I hear somebody knockin…
Cool Rockin Loretta Hey operator, cancel the phone call I hear somebody knockin'…
Cornbread Moon River's on the rise, crows are in the skies Look at…
Coyotes Are Howlin Coyotes Are howlin', peyote's in bloom The Yard dogs are pro…
Crawdad Train Hey, whistle man, what's that on the track? Looks like a…
Crazy Lemon They call me the Crazy Lemon I'm crazy, wild, free for…
Cry LET THE RAIN FALL FROM YOUR EYES YOU SHOULD HAVE THOUGHT…
Dallas Did you ever see Dallas from a DC-9 at night Well…
Dam Of My Heart There's a flood in the suburbs Where will all the water…
Dig All Night I'm Just sittin' here wonderin' The world's gone to hell…
Don't Put a Lock on My Heart I got your letter in the mailbox, honey Love flys, when…
Dont Worry About It DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT DON'T DON'T EVEN TRY NO REASON TO…
Down On The Drag (Butch Hancock) Down On The Drag...Down On The Drag Wh…
Drivin I'm a drivin' man I'm a drivin' man I'm a-travelin' light, r…
Drivin to the Poorhouse in a Limousine Drivin' to the Poorhouse in a Limosine Livin' on soda-pop an…
Drivin' Man I'm a drivin' man I'm a drivin' man I'm a-travelin' light,…
Drivin' To The Poorhouse Drivin' to the Poorhouse in a Limosine Livin' on soda-pop an…
Early In The Mornin The wind blew through my hair. Early in the morning. I…
Every Night About This Time Every night about this time She's waiting for a man It could…
Everybody Got Hammered Everybody Got hammered Last night Everybody Got hammered…
Fightin I'm ridin' through the middle of some godforsaken town Dark…
Fightin' for My Life I'm ridin' through the middle of some godforsaken town Dark …
Fingernails I keep my fingernails long So they Click when I play…
Firewater You got drunk last night, you swear you saw the…
Fools Fall In Love Fools fall in love Wise men they fall too Wise men hit…
For Your Love For your love, I'd rope the moon Put it in a…
Four Ol Brokes Four ol' Brokes, One Fool Joker, waitin' for the light…
Gallo Del Ciello Carlos Saragosa left his home in Casas Grandes When the moon…
Gambler Hello, my babe, I'm back to stay You're sure wearing fine…
Garden of Manhattan SHE WALKS IN THE GARDEN OF MANHATTAN SHE PLANTS HER SEEDS…
Glare of Glory ONCE I LIVED MY LIFE IN THE GLARE OF GLORY ALONE…
Good Rockin Well, I heard the news There’s good rockin’ tonight Well, …
Good Rockin' Tonight Well, I heard the news There's good rockin' tonight Well, I …
Goodnight Dear Diary Now I lay me down to sleep Leave the day behind Pray…
Grandfather Blues My great great Grandfather Prospected for gold In the wilds …
Gulf Coast Blues Walkin' on the shore Feelin' mighty bad These have been the …
Hard Livin Well, you can call out the sheriff and the highway…
Hard Luck Saint He said he discovered America with nothin' but a paper…
Here's To The Weary There goes Woody in a Model A Ford he's a…
Highways And Heartaches Leaving California, she is on my mind I left her back…
Hold On Reeling 'cross the mossy swamp Texarkana, Louisiana, listeni…
Honky Tonk Masquerade You sure look fine tonight, in the beer sign light. Why…
Honky Tonkin' And if your baby leaves you And you got no place…
I Tonight I think I'm gonna go downtown Tonight I think I'm…
I Ain I ain't been here long I ain't sung my song But light…
I Didn I woke up this mornin' I was half-insane And I didn't even…
I Didn't Even Do It I woke up this mornin' I was half-insane And I didn't even…
I Gotta Find Ol Smoke from a downshift blows across the grain And the black…
I Had My Hopes Up High Well I left my home out on the great High…
I Keep Gettin I'm a-working On the line Six days at a time With a shovel…
I Saw It In You I opened the blinds in a Texas Motel room When the…
I Will Lose My Life If I have to lose you, to lose you I'll forever…
I'll Be Your Fool I'll be your fool, I'll be your lovin' loser I'll be…
I'm a Man Now I'm a man now, I ain't no kid I done some…
I'm A Thousand Miles From Home Travelin' down this weary road Travelin' down this weary roa…
I'm on the Run Again I'm on the run again I'm on the run again Runnin' from…
If I Could Teach My Chihuahua To Sing Oh, weary me I'm broke as a man can be My bills…
If You Were A Bluebird If you were a bluebird, you'd be a sad one I'd…
It His car never started on the very first time But today…
It's A Little Like Love Well, I woke up wonderin' 'Bout what you said last night Whe…
Jazz Street He was a canvas-back'd scatterbrain from Jazz Street He had …
Jesse Justice Well Jesse was a rovin' gambler Nine ball was his game He…
Joe's Cryin' Schottiche When you see my head bow down below my knees Come…
Johnny Well, Johnny come in last night Man, he was an awful…
July Blues It's too hot for snakes My cow won't milk And my bulldog…
Leo and Leona a little man named Leo headed for Laredo he left Saltillo…
Letter to L.A You're afraid to lose your cover Afraid to bare your soul …
Letter to L.A. You're afraid to lose your cover Afraid to bare your soul Li…
Letter To LA You're afraid to lose your cover Afraid to bare your soul …
Letter To Laredo As I was riding across the Mississippi stopped there and…
Little Blossom Hey, Little Blossom, throw on your new blue jeans I just…
Live Forever I'm gonna live forever I'm gonna cross that river I'm gonna …
Lock On My Heart I got your letter in the mailbox, honey Love flies, when…
Lord of the Highway With your fan belt slippin' and your bare tires squealin' Ev…
Love Is In The Beating Of Hearts Love is the beating of hearts Like distant drums in the…
Magdalene ain't lookin' for trouble I can't stay here tonight I got to…
Mardi Gras Waltz It's a hot and a rockin' street All-right, all-right Burns…
Maria Bringing in the New Year's eve alone The glitter of the…
Maybe She Walking in this city Ain't got a friend All I meet is…
Me And Billy The Kid Me and Billy the Kid never got along I didn't like…
Miss Bonnie And Mister Clyde I was mindin' my own business down on Deep Elum…
Mockingbird Hill Casandra Corinna lived on mockingbird Hill By the Tai-state …
Musta Notta Gotta Lotta Please understand me everything's all right I just musta not…
My Baby Thinks She's French My baby thinks she's French My baby thinks she's French She …
My Eyes Got Lucky Out a my window, 'round my back You can see the…
Nacho Mama The doors flew back and in they came A tough bunch…
No Rope My Daisy, she's crazy Just like she seems She climbs into …
No Rope Daisy-O My Daisy she's crazy Just like she seems She climbs into bed…
Not That Much Has Changed Grew up in this town and I'm coming back home…
Odds of the Blues Well love is a game Takes two to play It's a…
Oh Boy! All of my love, all of my kissin' You don't know…
Pins And Needles I ain't been sleepin', I ain't been eatin' I've been on…
Queen Of Heaven She rides a horse named Las Grimas Through deserted railway…
Ranches And Rivers In the cool of the evening She calls me to dance My…
Rich Man Well a poor boy's got one thing on a rich…
River Fever With some silver tongued bull rider from La Grange Later th…
Road Goes on Forever Sherry was a waitress at the only joint in town She…
Road Hawg I got a road hawg on my mind Move over, baby,…
Rock Me Baby Put your arms around me, now And try your best to…
Rock Me My Baby Put your arms around me, now And try your best to…
Rock Salt and Nails On the banks of the river Where the willows hang…
Roll Again "Damn this sand," sang the rambler "Damn this hand," sang th…
Row Of Dominoes Carmen must have been the Devils daughter At least he taugh…
Run Little Pony I went down to the races to watch my pony…
Run Preciosa Saw her in the barrio In the town where the brothers…
Saint Valentine Saint Valentine drove a red Continental With a headlight out…
Satisfied At Last WRONG LYRICS INSERTED, LYRICS NOT YET AVAILABLE ONLINE…
Screaming Blue Jillions Here's a little ditty 'bout Screamin Blue Jillions It was a…
Settle For Love You say you want drama I'll give you drama You say you…
She Collected She collected gun-slingers First-stringers, dead-ringers She…
She Finally Spoke Spanish To Me Waiting for the train to France I hung my head in…
She Gotta Get the Gettin Baby like the nightlife She can't tolerate the quiet life Sh…
She Gotta Get the Gettin' Baby like the nightlife She can't tolerate the quiet life …
She Leaves You Where You Are This highway's like a girl I knew You climb into her…
She Never Spoke Spanish To Me Met her in old Mexico She was laughing sad and young In…
Silver City One day I went and left my home out in…
Sister Soak The Beans Sister, soak the beans I'll be comin' home to chop…
Sleepless In Love He had hair, black as a fiberglass speedboat The morning air…
Slow You Down Come here with me I wanna slow you down I wanna smear…
Smack Dab in the Middle Pick me a town in any clime Where people like a…
So You Wanna Be Rich You want the women to swoon When you walk in the…
So You Wanna Be Rich? You want the women to swoon When you walk in the…
Soon All Your Sorrows Be Gone THEY SAY THAT THE WORLD IS HARD OH BUT I KNOW…
Southern Eyes Don't roll those Southern Eyes at me Specially when the moon…
Standin Well, I was standin' at a big hotel, just wishin'…
Streets of Sin Mighty river, muddy as sin Troubled waters, Like the shape I…
Suckin Well, I tried my best to be at rest When the…
Sue Me Sue Well you don't need a lawyer You don't need a judge You…
Tenessee's Not the State I'm In You might call it sad confusion You might even call it…
Tennessee's Not The State I'm In You might call it sad confusion You might even call it…
That I been workin' on the farm Just me and my brother…
That Ain How many times did you Tell me I need you How many…
That Ain't Enough How many times did you Tell me I need you How many…
That's Why I Love You Because you walked that lonesome valley Because I met you in…
The Highway is My Home I packed up my suitcase, got my guitar I walked to…
The River With some silver tongued bull rider from La Grange Later tha…
The Road Goes On Forever Sherry was a waitress at the only joint in town She…
There's Never Been THERE'S NEVER BEEN A STORY TOLD THAT NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE LI…
Thousand Miles from Home Travelin' down this weary road Travelin' down this weary roa…
Time For Travelin I came into Atlanta Dreamin' of Lorraine Came so tired of …
Tonight I Think I Tonight I think I'm gonna go downtown Tonight I think I'm…
Tonight I Think I'm Gonna Go Downtown Tonight I think I'm gonna go downtown Tonight I think I'm…
Treat Me Like A Saturday Night I'm going out where the lights don't shine so bright I'm…
Twistin My heavy heart pounds hard tonight Down this highway in the…
Twisty River Bridge I recall that twisty river bridge Over that painted river b…
Up A Tree They've got him up a tree He knows he's up a…
Up On The Ridge Up on the ridge, I seen a rider passin' by Up…
Upon the Ridge Up on the ridge, I seen a rider passin' by Up…
West Texas Waltz When you're ready or steady To go dancin', romancin' Grab yo…
When The Nights Are Cold Please don't ask me to swim that river Please don't ask…
Whenever Kindness Fails Crossed the desert in a dining car In the spring of…
Where Is My Love Here I am drinkin'. I am caught thinkin' I wasn't always…
Whiskey and Women and Money to Burn It's Saturday night, I just got my check Been working all…
Wind Well, it's cheek to cheek and it's face to face If…
Windmills and Watertanks The windmills and the water tanks all stand on solid…
Wishin All the streetlights on Main Street know my shadow All the…
Wonderin Where I was raised in a canyon By the country music station In…
Workin I been workin' all my life tryin' to beat the…
Working On the Highway Friday night's pay night, guys fresh out of work Talking 'b…
Wounded Creek I went out one afternoon for a walk down Wounded…
You Can Bet I This ole world is a funny ole place We're always running…
You Can Bet I'm Gone This ole world is a funny ole place We're always running…
You Can Rely On Me I DON'T KNOW HOW TO GO ABOUT TO TELI YOU I…
You Saved Me From myself you saved me When no one else would call Your…
You're Workin' For The Man I been workin' all my life tryin' to beat the…
Your Eyes YOUR EYES GIVE ME A WINDOW THROUGH WHICH THE LIGHT SHINES…