Deep in the South of Texas
Not so long ago,
There on a crowded island
In the Gulf of Mexico

It didn't take too much money,
Man, but it sure was nice.
You could dance all night if you felt all right,
Drinking whiskey and throwing dice.

And everybody knows
It was hard to leave.
And everybody knows
It was down at the Balinese.

Yeah, I remember Ruby,
She always dressed in red
Wearing skintight pants, Lord, and how she could dance
With a rag wrapped around her head.

And everybody knows
It was hard to leave.
And everybody knows
It was down at the Balinese.

And everybody knows
It was hard to leave.
And everybody knows
It was down at the Balinese,
It was down at the Balinese,
It was down at the Balinese.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to ZZ Top's "Balinese" narrate the experience of a partygoer on a crowded island in the Gulf of Mexico, where the whiskey flowed, and one could dance all night. The singer recalls a woman named Ruby, who always dressed in red and could move her body with ease while sporting a rag around her head. The song highlights a sense of nostalgia and fondness for the Balinese, a place where it was hard to leave, and where memories were made.

The lyrics to "Balinese" are an ode to the Balinese Room, which was a famous nightclub located on the island of Galveston, Texas. The Balinese Room was an iconic destination for the rich and famous, attracting visitors such as Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, and Howard Hughes. The nightclub was established in the 1940s and enjoyed its peak during the 1950s and 1960s. The establishment was also a hub for gambling, which was illegal in Texas during that period. The Balinese Room ultimately closed after Hurricane Ike hit the island in 2008.

Line by Line Meaning

Deep in the South of Texas
In the southern part of Texas

Not so long ago,
Recently, not too far in the past

There on a crowded island
On an island that was busy with people

In the Gulf of Mexico
Located in the Gulf of Mexico

It didn't take too much money,
It was not expensive

Man, but it sure was nice.
Despite not being expensive, it was enjoyable

You could dance all night if you felt all right,
One could dance the entire night, feeling good

Drinking whiskey and throwing dice.
While drinking whiskey, people could gamble

And everybody knows
Everyone is aware

It was hard to leave.
It was challenging to depart the location

And everybody knows
Everyone is aware