Stockyards
Casey Donahew Lyrics
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Its where I drank my first beer I cried my first tear
On the corner of north and main
Down the bricks of exchange I felt so strange
She reached down and gave me a kiss
And in the shadows of downtown I hung around
To find me a gold buckle queen
In the stockyards its my backyard that's where I grew up
Its were I drank my first beer I cried my first tear
On the corner of north and main
In the stockyards its my backyard that's where I grew up
If your down in the shoots twirling the loops
Cadilliac's is probably your spot
Man its cowboy hats and cowboy cats
As far as the eye can see
And I'll be coming back real soon to longhorns saloon
So Alex can pour me a beer
Chorus
If your on the chase I know the place
William Roberts will surly suffice
And if your not sure just drink one more
She'll look better I swear
Cause I was given birth in south fort worth
That's where I'll live and die
Chorus
Not sure where you are it could be PR's
I've been lost there myself
Two steps from my pillow the shut down armadillo
I stopped off and bought one round
The Casey Donahew Band's "Stockyards" is a nostalgic homage to the place the artist considers his home - the Fort Worth Stockyards in Texas. The song is a reflection on growing up in this area, drinking his first beer and crying his first tear. The streets, corners and alleys where he spent his youth are imbued with memories of the past, and every location described in the song is a personal landmark that has its own story.
One of the most powerful parts of the song revolves around the memories of a kiss in the shadows of downtown, as the singer searches for his soulmate or 'gold buckle queen'. The chorus is a repeated reminder of the area's importance - the stockyards is like the singer's backyard and has a strong emotional connection. The song tells of the community's traditions, such as twirling the loops and heading to Cadillac's, which is the spot for cowboy hats and cats. One of the most poignant moments is the artist's declaration that he was 'given birth in south Fort Worth', as if the place has nurtured him and helped to shape who he is.
The song is a beautiful piece of country music storytelling, that evokes memories, and paints a vivid picture of a time and a place that is special. The song appears on the Casey Donahew Band's album "Standoff," released in 2013. It was written by Casey Donahew, Josh Abbott, and Aaron Watson.
Line by Line Meaning
The stockyards its my backyard that's where I grew up
I grew up in the stockyards area which is literally behind my house
Its where I drank my first beer I cried my first tear
My earliest experiences of both joy and sadness happened in this place
On the corner of north and main
A specific location within the stockyards area where I have memories
Down the bricks of exchange I felt so strange
I experienced an uneasy feeling in this area due to its unfamiliarity
She reached down and gave me a kiss
Someone I was with expressed their affection towards me
And in the shadows of downtown I hung around
I spent time loitering in the nearby downtown area
To find me a gold buckle queen
I was looking for a woman who could appreciate the rodeo lifestyle
If your down in the shoots twirling the loops
If you're participating in rodeo events like bull riding or roping
Cadilliac's is probably your spot
You might like the bar called Cadillac's located in the stockyards area
Man its cowboy hats and cowboy cats
There are a lot of cowboys wearing cowboy hats in the stockyards area
As far as the eye can see
There are so many cowboys and hats that it seems endless
And I'll be coming back real soon to longhorns saloon
I plan on returning to the Longhorn Saloon for another drink soon
So Alex can pour me a beer
I have a specific bartender friend named Alex who I want to serve me a beer
If your on the chase I know the place
If you're looking for a specific type of bar or environment, I know the spot
William Roberts will surly suffice
A bar called William Roberts will definitely meet your needs
And if your not sure just drink one more
If you're not sure about what bar you want to check out next, have another drink and decide later
She'll look better I swear
The atmosphere will improve and your company will seem more appealing after another drink
Cause I was given birth in south fort worth
I was born and raised in the southern part of Fort Worth, Texas
That's where I'll live and die
I plan on staying in this area for the rest of my life
Not sure where you are it could be PR's
I'm not sure of your location, it might be at a bar called PR's
I've been lost there myself
I have been lost in that area before
Two steps from my pillow the shut down armadillo
The armadillo-shaped bar that is very close to where I live has been closed down
I stopped off and bought one round
I went to the nearby bar to buy a round of drinks for myself and possibly some friends
Its where I drank my first beer I cried my first tear
The stockyards area is significant to me because it is where I had some important first experiences
In the stockyards its my backyard that's where I grew up
I associate the stockyards area with the same familiarity and nostalgia as my own backyard
On the corner of north and main
This location within the stockyards area is especially important to me
In the stockyards its my backyard that's where I grew up
Reiteration of the opening line to emphasize its significance
Contributed by Noah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.