While Owens originally used fiddle and retained pedal steel guitar into the 1970s, his sound on records and onstage was always more stripped-down and elemental, incorporating elements of rock and roll. His signature style was based on simple storylines, infectious choruses, a twangy electric guitar, an insistent rhythm supplied by a drum track placed forward in the mix, and high two-part harmonies featuring Owens and his guitarist Don Rich.
Beginning in 1969, Owens co-hosted the TV series Hee Haw with Roy Clark. He left the cast in 1986. In 1974, the accidental death of Rich, his best friend, devastated him for years and abruptly halted his career until he performed with Dwight Yoakam in 1988. Owens died on March 25, 2006 shortly after performing at his Crystal Palace restaurant, club and museum in Bakersfield.
Owens is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame and the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
abilene
Buck Owens and His Buckaroos Lyrics
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Abilene Abilene prettiest town I've ever seen
Women there don't treat you mean in Abilene sweet Abilene
I sat alone most every night watched the trains pull out of sight
Don't I wish they were carryin' me back to Abilene my Abilene
Abilene oh Abilene...
[ steel ]
Crowded city there ain't nothing free nothin' in this town for me
Abilene oh Abilene...
Women there don't treat you mean in Abilene my Abilene
The song Abilene by Buck Owens and His Buckaroos is an ode to the beauty of Abilene, a small city in Texas. The lyrics paint a picture of a place where the women are kind and the town is free of the troubles of the crowded city life. The singer of the song is longing to return to Abilene, and imagines himself on the trains that pass through town, taking him back to his sweet Abilene.
The song captures a sense of nostalgia and longing for a simpler way of life. The crowded city life is portrayed as empty and unfulfilling, while Abilene represents a place of peace and contentment. The repeating chorus of "Abilene oh Abilene" reinforces this message, as the town becomes a symbol for the singer's yearning for a better existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Abilene Abilene prettiest town I've ever seen
Abilene is the most beautiful city that I, Doyle Holly, have ever laid my eyes on.
Women there don't treat you mean in Abilene sweet Abilene
Women in Abilene are very kind and treat people nicely.
I sat alone most every night watched the trains pull out of sight
I spend most of my evenings by myself, watching trains leave Abilene.
Don't I wish they were carryin' me back to Abilene my Abilene
I would love to be on one of those trains leaving Abilene and heading back to the city that I love, Abilene.
Crowded city there ain't nothing free nothin' in this town for me
The current city I am in is crowded and unappealing, with no opportunities for me.
Wish to the Lord that I could be back in Abilene sweet Abilene
I am praying to God to be able to return to the town I love, Abilene, and escape this undesirable place.
Abilene oh Abilene...
Repeating the name of the town I miss so much, Abilene.
Women there don't treat you mean in Abilene my Abilene
Once again expressing how kind and friendly the women are in Abilene.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Gibson, John Loudermilk, Lester Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind