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.
Texas Fiddle Man
Asleep at the Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Started shining down on me tonight
I feel like cutting love
And staying up all night
Well, I was born
With a fiddle in my hand
I′m a Texas fiddle man
And down through San Antone
I fiddle my way around the world
But Texas is my home
I love the hills and valleys
And the red river sand
I'm a Texas fiddle man
A Texas fiddle man
I′m often up the boat
And let the good times roll
Well, all I wanna do is play
And if you ask me why, I'll say
I'm a Texas fiddle man
Well, I was raised on Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys
And just like brother bond
I got a fiddle full of joy
But if the devil comes to Texas
Well, I′ll kick his fanny and hey
I′m a Texas fiddle man
A Texas fiddle man
I'm often up the boat
And let the good times roll
Well, all I wanna do is play
And if you ask me why, I′ll say
I'm a Texas fiddle man
Fiddle
Well, that old moon
Started shining down on me tonight
I feel like making love
And staying up all night
Lord, I was born
With a fiddle in my hand
I′m a Texas fiddle man
A Texas fiddle man
I'm often up the boat
And let the good times roll
Well, all I wanna do is play
And if you ask me why, I′ll say
I'm a Texas fiddle man
And if you gonna play the fiddle
You gotta have a Texan in the band
The lyrics of "Texas Fiddle Man" by Asleep at the Wheel speak of a man who is born with a fiddle in his hand and is proud to be a Texan. The song is a celebration of being a fiddle player from Texas and the love for its rich musical heritage. The lyrics speak of the singer's love for the hills, valleys, and red river sand, which adds to the beauty of Texas. He feels like staying up all night and cutting love, simply playing his fiddle. We get to know that the singer is from Texas and can play his fiddle in Dallas and San Antone. He travels the world with his fiddle but Texas remains his home.
As the song progresses, we are told that the singer was raised on Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys and that he has a fiddle full of joy. The singer's love for playing the fiddle is shown when he mentions that all he wants to do is play, and if anyone asks him why, he would say that he is a Texas fiddle man. The song ends with the singer stating that if you play the fiddle, there has to be a Texan in the band.
Overall, the song is a tribute to American country music, its history, and its artists. It celebrates the musical heritage of Texas and the fiddle as an instrument. It showcases the pride that a fiddle player from Texas has for their music, which is passed down from one generation to another.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, that old moon
Started shining down on me tonight
I feel like cutting love
And staying up all night
The singer is feeling inspired by the moon and is in the mood to be romantic and stay up all night.
Well, I was born
With a fiddle in my hand
I′m a Texas fiddle man
The singer was born with a natural talent for playing the fiddle and is proud to be a Texan fiddler.
Well, I can fiddle down in Dallas
And down through San Antone
I fiddle my way around the world
But Texas is my home
I love the hills and valleys
And the red river sand
I'm a Texas fiddle man
The singer has played his fiddle all over the world, but he always loves coming back to Texas because he loves the land and is proud to be from there.
A Texas fiddle man
I′m often up the boat
And let the good times roll
Well, all I wanna do is play
And if you ask me why, I'll say
I'm a Texas fiddle man
The artist is always up for a good time and loves to play his fiddle. He's proud to be from Texas and that's why he plays the fiddle.
Well, I was raised on Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys
And just like brother bond
I got a fiddle full of joy
But if the devil comes to Texas
Well, I′ll kick his fanny and hey
I′m a Texas fiddle man
The artist was raised listening to Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys and considers them his brothers in music. He loves his fiddle and will defend his home state from any enemy, even the devil.
And if you gonna play the fiddle
You gotta have a Texan in the band
The singer believes that to truly play the fiddle, you need to have someone from Texas in the band. Texas is the home of the fiddle and only they can bring the true sound of Texas to the music.
Writer(s): Ray Benson, Larry Franklin
Contributed by Kayla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ben - Moderator
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Ben - Moderator
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Eddie
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