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.
San Antonio Rose
Asleep at the Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A song of old San Antone
Where in dreams I live with a memory
Beneath the stars all alone
It was there I found beside the Alamo
Enchantment strange as the blue up above
A moonlit pass that only she would know
Still hears my broken song of love
Call back my rose, rose of San Antone
Lips so sweet and tender like petals falling apart
Speak once again of my love, my own.
Broken song, empty words I know
Still live in my heart all alone
For that moonlit pass by the Alamo
And Rose, my Rose of San Antone
Deep within my heart lies a melody,
A song of old San Antone
Where in dreams I live with a memory
Beneath the stars all alone
It was there I found beside the Alamo
Enchantment strange as the blue up above
A moonlit pass that only she would know
Still hears my broken song of love
Moon in all your splendor know only my heart
Call back my rose, rose of San Antone
Lips so sweet and tender like petals falling apart
Speak once again of my love, my own.
Broken song, empty words I know
Still live in my heart all alone
For that moonlit pass by the Alamo
And Rose, my Rose of San Antone
The lyrics to Asleep At The Wheel's "San Antonio Rose" tell the story of a love lost but never forgotten. The singer is trapped in a cycle of memories, dreaming about the past and the love that once existed. As he wanders alone beneath the stars, he longs for his lover to return to him, calling out to the moon to bring her back. He remembers the moonlit pass by the Alamo where they first fell in love, and he begs his Rose to speak of their love once again, despite knowing that these words are empty and meaningless.
The lyrics are poignant in their portrayal of love and loss, and they evoke a sense of nostalgia and yearning. The use of vivid imagery - the moon, the stars, the petals falling apart - add to the romance and emotion of the song. The repetition of the words "San Antone" and "broken song" create a sense of circularity, emphasizing the singer's inability to move on from the past. Overall, "San Antonio Rose" is a powerful exploration of the enduring power of love and the pain of losing someone you once loved deeply.
Line by Line Meaning
Deep within my heart lies a melody
My heart holds a memory that is dear to me and is the source of a beautiful tune.
A song of old San Antone
The tune is linked to San Antonio, a city that holds a special place in my memories and heart.
Where in dreams I live with a memory
I often find myself transported into the past where I am able to relive moments with a certain person in San Antonio as if they are real.
Beneath the stars all alone
It's in the solitude of the night sky that I feel the most connected to my memories of San Antonio and that special someone.
It was there I found beside the Alamo
I met a person who was enchanting and special to me, next to the iconic landmark of the Alamo.
Enchantment strange as the blue up above
The person I met was captivating in a unique, perhaps even otherworldly way.
A moonlit pass that only she would know
There was a particular path in San Antonio, illuminated by the moonlight, that only my special someone knew about and led us down.
Still hears my broken song of love
Even though our time together was brief, my special someone still remembers the tune that I had composed for her, despite its lamentable quality.
Moon in all your splendor know only my heart
The moonlight, no matter how beautiful it may be, pales in comparison to the depth of my love and longing for my special someone.
Call back my rose, rose of San Antone
I am asking for fate to bring me back to my special someone, the beautiful and unique rose that San Antonio produced.
Lips so sweet and tender like petals falling apart
The lips of my special someone were gentle and beautiful, yet also conveyed the sadness and pain that comes with the inevitability of fading beauty.
Speak once again of my love, my own.
I yearn to hear again the words of love from my special someone, to be reminded of the connection we once shared.
Broken song, empty words I know
I am aware that my song of love is incomplete and not perfectly expressed, and yet it still holds great meaning and sentimental value to me.
Still live in my heart all alone
Despite my special someone being absent, my memories of our time together and my love for her still remain in my heart.
And Rose, my Rose of San Antone
My special someone, the beautiful and captivating person I met in San Antonio, will always hold a special place in my heart.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: James Robert Wills
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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@zaldyboydecastro8018
Lyrics:
Deep within my heart lies a melody
A song of old San Antone
Where in dreams I live with a memory
Beneath the stars all alone
It was there I found beside the Alamo
Enchantment strange as the blue up above
A moonlit pass that only she would know
Still hears my broken song of love
Moon in all your splendor know only my heart
Call back my rose, rose of San Antone
Lips so sweet and tender like petals falling apart
Speak once again of my love, my own.
Broken song, empty words I know
Still live in my heart all alone
For that moonlit pass by the Alamo
And Rose, my Rose of San Antone
Deep within my heart lies a melody,
A song of old San Antone
Where in dreams I live with a memory
Beneath the stars all alone
It was there I found beside the Alamo
Enchantment strange as the blue up above
A moonlit pass that only she would know
Still hears my broken song of love
Moon in all your splendor know only my heart
Call back my rose, rose of San Antone
Lips so sweet and tender like petals falling apart
Speak once again of my love, my own.
Broken song, empty words I know
Still live in my heart all alone
For that moonlit pass by the Alamo
And Rose, my Rose of San Antone
@jeromemartinez6415
A classical big hit that will live forever. I’ll be 93 in May and this song makes me glad I am alive!
@bendavidson3198
I am 85, born in Oklahoma and grew up 8 miles into Arkansas listening to Bob Wills on KVOO Tulsa...
@wm.jackson4284
My parents danced to Bob Wills and the Playboys many times. Thanks Ray for keeping this music alive.
@rickyburton4642
They’re the greatest band ever!!! 👍👍😎😃
@walterbriggs272
What a wonderful gig this man has had! Outa college playing 8 yo the bar, rockin life down the track! Beautiful music
@peakfiddler
Great version of the Bob Wills classic. Really enjoy listening to 'Asleep at the Wheel', top band.
@johnbilllegendre6237
Keith Pannell