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.
Miles and Miles of Texas
Asleep at the Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rasied on shrimps and catfish, mammy's good gumbo
I got the ramblin' fever, said goodbye to ma and pa
Crossed that ol' red river and this is what I saw
I saw miles and miles of Texas
All the stars up in the sky
I saw miles and miles of Texas
I rode up in to Austin the cradle of the West
Just ask any cowboy he'll tell you it's the best
I met a Texas beauty, I got friendly with her pa
I looked in to her big blue eyes this is what I saw
I saw miles and miles of Texas
All the stars up in the sky
I saw miles and miles of Texas
Gonna live here 'til I die
I started tamin' broncos, I made every rodeo
Until I met a tough one, you know his name-a was Devil Joe
I grabbed hold of his bridle just to ride this ol' outlaw
He threw me from the saddle and this is what I saw
I saw miles and miles of Texas
All the stars up in the sky
I saw miles and miles of Texas
Gonna live here 'til I die
Miles of Texas
Uahh now
All night long
Gonna live here 'til I die
Ah, Texas
The song "Miles and Miles of Texas" by Asleep At The Wheel is a tribute to the state of Texas, where lead singer Ray Benson is from. The lyrics tell the story of a Louisiana boy who has a longing to see the beauty of Texas, and eventually settles there. The song starts with the singer's childhood in Louisiana and his love for the food of the region. He then sets out on his journey across the "ol' red river" and enters the state of Texas, where he sees endless miles of land and unobstructed view of the sky filled with stars. The singer's journey leads him to Austin, which he calls the "cradle of the West" and where the people he meets are friendly and hospitable, especially a girl with blue eyes who he falls in love with. Finally, he attempts to tame a wild horse named Devil Joe, but the horse throws him off and the singer is once again reminded of the endless beauty and freedom of Texas.
The lyrics of the song showcase the beauty of Texas, its vast and open landscape and the friendly people who live there. The song is an ode to the state and the singer's love for his new home. The song has a country-western feel to it with steel guitars, fiddles and upbeat rhythms, typical of Asleep At The Wheel's music.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in Lousiana down on the ol' bouyo
My birthplace was Louisiana situated near the old canal
Rasied on shrimps and catfish, mammy's good gumbo
I grew up in a food-loving family that consumed shrimp, catfish, and my mother’s delicious gumbo
I got the ramblin' fever, said goodbye to ma and pa
I had an incurable case of wanderlust, so I bid adieu to my parents
Crossed that ol' red river and this is what I saw
After crossing the iconic Red River, these are the things that caught my sight
I saw miles and miles of Texas
Texas, the Lone Star State, seemed to stretch on endlessly
All the stars up in the sky
The sky was clear, studded with countless shimmering stars
Gonna live here 'til I die
I knew right then that Texas was going to be my final home before I breathed my last breath
I rode up in to Austin the cradle of the West
I rode up to Austin, widely known as the birthplace of the Old West
Just ask any cowboy he'll tell you it's the best
The cowboys I met were all praise for this vibrant, bustling city
I met a Texas beauty, I got friendly with her pa
I got acquainted with an attractive lady from Texas and made friends with her father
I looked in to her big blue eyes this is what I saw
As I gazed into her azure blue eyes, I was struck with awe
I started tamin' broncos, I made every rodeo
I started taming untamed broncos and managed to participate and succeed in every single rodeo event
Until I met a tough one, you know his name-a was Devil Joe
But everything changed when I encountered a notoriously challenging bronco named Devil Joe
I grabbed hold of his bridle just to ride this ol' outlaw
I gripped his reins tighter than ever determined to ride this old, wild outlaw
He threw me from the saddle and this is what I saw
Unfortunately, the bronco threw me off his back, and this is all that I could see
Miles of Texas
Texas remained the same, filled with endless, rolling miles
Uahh now
An expression of joy, excitement or enthusiasm
All night long
I'm in Texas and intend to take full advantage of my time here
Gonna live here 'til I die
I’m going to spend the rest of my life right here in Texas, where I’m at home
Ah, Texas
An expression of satisfaction, as if there's nowhere better than Texas
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Tom Canfield, Diane Johnston
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Ben - Moderator
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Eddie
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