In 1969, Ray Benson and Lucky Oceans (Reuben Gosfield) co-founded Asleep at the Wheel in Paw Paw, West Virginia, and soon after they found themselves opening for Alice Cooper and Hot Tuna in Washington, DC.[1] A year later, they moved to East Oakland, California at the invitation of Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen. After being mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine by Van Morrison, they landed a record deal with United Artists. In 1973, their debut album, Comin' Right At Ya was released by United Artists. At the request of Willie Nelson, they left Oakland for Austin in 1974.
Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been presented numerous awards throughout their career. Most recently, the 16th Annual Midsouth Regional Emmy Award for the making of "A Ride With Bob", recognition by Mayor Kirk Watson of Austin, Texas, and the Darrel K. Royal Music Patron Award by The Texas Heritage Songwriters' Association. In 2007, The Austin Chronicle recognized Asleep at the Wheel for Band of the Year, Best Country Band, and into their Hall of Fame. Benson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame in 2002, was given The Texas Music Association Lifetime Achievement Award in 1996, and recognized as an Outstanding Producer by the National Academy of Recording Arts in 1988. He has also been given numerous Citations of Achievement by Broadcast Music, Inc. for his work in the country music field. Ray Benson and Asleep at the Wheel have been one of the strongest names in Country Music for the last forty years.
Take Me Back To Tulsa
Asleep At The Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take me back to Tulsa, I'm too young to marry
You see that girl with the red dress on,
Some folks call her Dinah
Stole my heart away from me
Way down in Louisiana
Take me back to Tulsa, I'm too young to marry
The big bee sucks the blossom
And the little bee makes the honey
Poor man throws the cotton
And the rich man makes the money
Take me back to Tulsa, I'm too young to marry
Take me back to Tulsa, I'm too young to marry
We travel all over this country wide
Playing music by the hour
Always wear this great big smile
We never do look sour
Take me back to Tulsa, I'm too young to marry
Take me back to Tulsa, I'm too young to marry
Would I go
You
Let me off
And I'll walk down to Greenwood
Take me back to Tulsa, I'm too young to marry
Take me back to Tulsa, I'm too young to marry
The lyrics to Asleep At The Wheel's song Take Me Back To Tulsa carry a playful tone, revolving around a young man's desire to return to Tulsa where he is too young to marry. The song has a strong sense of place, with references to Louisiana and the cotton fields. The opening lines of the song express the young man's desire to return to Tulsa, a place where he can avoid getting married at a young age. The playful tone and the upbeat rhythm of the song create a light-hearted atmosphere that does not take itself too seriously.
The second verse introduces a girl in a red dress, who the singer claims stole his heart while he was down in Louisiana. The reference to Dinah is interesting, as Dinah is a common name in traditional American folk songs, and is often associated with the blues. The third verse compares the big and little bee, drawing a parallel between the way nature functions and the human world, where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. This juxtaposition of the natural world with the human world provides an interesting critique of modern capitalism.
The final verse talks about the band's travels and how they always wear a smile, never looking sour. The final lines of the song express the young man's willingness to walk to Greenwood, a suburb of Tulsa. The song seems to be a nostalgic look back at the singer's youth and his desire to return to a simpler time.
Line by Line Meaning
Take me back to Tulsa, I'm too young to marry
I want to go back to Tulsa, but I'm not yet ready to settle down
You see that girl with the red dress on, Some folks call her Dinah
There's a girl in a red dress, who goes by the name Dinah
Stole my heart away from me, Way down in Louisiana
I fell in love with her when we were in Louisiana
The big bee sucks the blossom, And the little bee makes the honey
The larger bee collects nectar, while the small bee produces honey
Poor man throws the cotton, And the rich man makes the money
The less wealthy man physically harvests the cotton, but the richer man profits from it
We travel all over this country wide, Playing music by the hour
We journey throughout the nation, performing music for several hours
Always wear this great big smile, We never do look sour
We always wear a huge smile, and never appear unhappy
Would I go, You, Let me off, And I'll walk down to Greenwood
If you stop the vehicle, I'll walk to Greenwood
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, JOHNNY BOND PUBLICATIONS, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Bob Wills, Tommy Duncan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ben - Moderator
The issue with search on Firefox is now resolved.
Ben - Moderator
Sorry about that Eddie - we will resolve this very soon. In the meantime you should still be able to paste a search into the search box. I'll update you here.
Eddie
With the new setup my firefox browser will not allow typing in the search area.
@nickvlachos6821
Saw the band in rural West Virginia in 1969, outside Paw Paw. They played mostly traditional country back then. They were fantastic back then.
@kingdiamond51fifty
(LOVE YOU DAD) I don't know what you had me listen to back then, but I'm still listening to it MISS YOU.
@ToddSikking
I heard them play in Franklin, TN around 10 years ago. Had to fly into Nashville from D.C.; but, boy was it worth it!!! They don't just keep Bob Wills Texas Swing alive; but, are actively contributing to it with original tunes as well. If you get the chance, go see them while Ray is still touring, and you'll definitely want them to "stay all night, stay a little longer"!!
@helenelarson5937
I just LOVE Ray Benson! ANYTHING he sings is just AWESOME!
@tracykingston9668
Can't beat the Philadelphia cowboy, Ray Benson.
@richeytony21
Real musicians playing real music👍🎶
@Viyorojas
my favorite song since
" i was too young to marry"
now I'm too old "to marry!" 🎶