"My dad was a guitar player. He played with Bob Wills and a little bit with Reba McEntire when she was first starting out," says Ragsdale. "He really didn't want me to be a drummer but I insisted. I found a set of drums in a neighbor's trash one day and hauled them into the cellar. He kind of figured out after about a year that I was serious and finally got me a new drum set. And when he met Cody, he realized his talent and how seriously we wanted to take music, and he really pushed us. He completely drove us up the wall, but later down the road, we realized he did it for a good reason."
Once the band got its chops they moved to Stillwater, Okla., where acts like Mike McClure's Great Divide and singer-songwriter Jimmy LaFave had established enough of a local scene to earn Stillwater the nickname "North Austin" (or, depending on your perspective, "West Nashville"). Inspired by McClure's self-penned Great Divide songs (and more than a little by early Steve Earle), the band quickly grew out of its Merle Haggard and classic rock covers and began focusing on Canada's uncommonly honest and straight-forward originals. A potent foursome of albums -- 1998's Carney, 1999's Live at the Wormy Dog, 2001's Highway 377 and 2002's Live at Billy Bob's Texas -- collectively sold more 70,000 copies to date. Combined with the band's average of 200 gigs a year, Cross Canadian Ragweed cinched a place at the top of the Texas-Oklahoma music totem pole.
"We're a little more rock 'n' roll than other people [from the Oklahoma/Texas scene], and that's not a bad thing," laughs Canada, whose Southern-fried lead guitar licks betray his love of heroes like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pete Anderson (of Dwight Yoakam fame) and Eddie Van Halen -- not to mention the fact that he's been playing since he was 8 years old.
After building a huge concert following in Texas and Oklahoma, the band decided to look into signing a record deal. In 2003, fledgling label Universal South released a self-titled album (produced by McClure) that the band recorded prior to signing their record deal. They released Soul Gravy in 2004 and Garage in 2005.
Their offical website is at www.crosscanadianragweed.com.
Boys from Oklahoma
Cross Canadian Ragweed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well them boys from Oklahoma roll their joints all wrong. They're too damn skinny and way too long, well I ain't a holy roller so I just use a bong. Them boys from Oklahoma roll their joints all wrong.
Them boys down there in Texas got some damn fine weed. They smuggle it across the Rio their using that Mexican breed. Well that's exploitin cheap labor but hell that's a Texan's creed. Yeah them boys down in Texas got some damn fine weed.
CHORUS
The boys in Colorado just assume pay for gold, the nights are too long the growin season's too cold. They just assume smoke a joint someone else has rolled. At least that's what I've been told.
CHORUS
Them boys in Louisiana got trouble growin their weed. Them alligators is mean they eat up all the seed. But on a bayou tonight by the light of the full moon, you can walk out and pick you a sack full of shrooms.
CHORUS
Them faggots down in Norman they got a kinky streak. They like to roll their own and sit and rest for two weeks. But they'll sure start to puffin on it if you stick one in their beak, them faggots down in Norman got a kinky streak.
CHORUS
The lyrics of "Boys From Oklahoma" by Cross Canadian Ragweed describe different states' approaches to smoking weed, and in particular, the ways in which they roll their joints. The chorus repeats the phrase "Them boys from Oklahoma roll their joints all wrong," suggesting that there is a particular way to roll a joint that is being ignored or missed in Oklahoma. The singer then goes on to describe the different ways weed is treated in Texas, Colorado, and Louisiana, before concluding with a jab at the supposedly "kinky" marijuana culture in Norman, Oklahoma.
The song is playful and irreverent, poking fun at the different stereotypes surrounding weed culture in different US states. The focus on the way joints are rolled and the specific challenges of growing weed in certain areas suggests an insider's knowledge of the subject matter, but the lyrics are accessible enough that anyone can enjoy the song. The repeated chorus and catchy melody make for an enjoyable sing-along.
Line by Line Meaning
Well them boys from Oklahoma roll their joints all wrong.
Oklahoman boys don't roll their joints properly.
They're too damn skinny and way too long, well I ain't a holy roller so I just use a bong.
Their joints are too thin and long, and the singer prefers to use a bong instead of rolling joints.
Them boys from Oklahoma roll their joints all wrong.
Reiteration that Oklahoma boys don't roll joints properly.
The boys down there in Texas got some damn fine weed.
Texas boys have good quality weed.
They smuggle it across the Rio their using that Mexican breed.
They bring weed from Mexico and smuggle it across the Rio Grande.
Well that's exploitin cheap labor but hell that's a Texan's creed.
While it may be considered exploiting cheap labor, it's a common practice in Texas.
Yeah them boys down in Texas got some damn fine weed.
Reiteration that Texans have good quality weed.
The boys in Colorado just assume pay for gold,
People in Colorado are willing to pay high prices for weed.
the nights are too long the growin season's too cold.
The climate in Colorado is not suitable for growing weed.
They just assume smoke a joint someone else has rolled.
People in Colorado prefer smoking joints rolled by someone else.
At least that's what I've been told.
This is what the singer has heard but may not be entirely true.
Them boys in Louisiana got trouble growin their weed.
People in Louisiana face difficulties in growing weed.
Them alligators is mean they eat up all the seed.
Alligators are a threat to weed growth in Louisiana.
But on a bayou tonight by the light of the full moon, you can walk out and pick you a sack full of shrooms.
However, mushrooms are available for easy picking in Louisiana on a full moon night.
Them faggots down in Norman they got a kinky streak.
People in Norman, Oklahoma, have unconventional and unusual preferences.
They like to roll their own and sit and rest for two weeks.
They prefer to roll their joints and take their time with it.
But they'll sure start to puffin on it if you stick one in their beak, them faggots down in Norman got a kinky streak.
Despite their unconventional preferences, they will still smoke the joint if offered to them.
Them boys from Oklahoma roll their joints all wrong.
Final reiteration that Oklahoman boys don't roll their joints properly.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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