Diamond Rio released their debut, Diamond Rio, in 1991. It spawned five Top 10 Country hits, including the #1 hit "Meet in the Middle", and went platinum. Their second album, Close to the Edge, released the following year, had three Top 10 singles and went gold. In 1994, their third album was released. Love a Little Stronger wasn't very successful commercially, but did produce another Top 5 single in the title track.
The mid-90's marked both a low point in album-naming creativity and a high point in chart success. Their fourth album, innovatively titled IV and released in 1996, spun off three Top 5 singles. (One of these, "It's All In Your Head", featured a video with Martin Sheen as a fiery preacher engaged in snake handling, mirroring the lyrics of the song.) In 1997, Diamond Rio released its first greatest hits album, entitled Greatest Hits. The album had two brand-new songs: "How Your Love Makes Me Feel" hit #1, and "Imagine That" became yet another top 5 hit. In 1998, Unbelievable was released, giving the band two more top 5 singles. The title track also reached the top 40 on the Pop charts. In 2001, the band released One More Day, whose title track became another chart-topper. The following year, the band released Completely, whose lead track, "Beautiful Mess", became their 4th #1 hit. The album also spawned another #1 single in "I Believe". December 30th, 2005 found Diamond Rio playing their new single In God we Still Trust during halftime of the Vitalis Sun Bowl between UCLA and Northwestern University in El Paso, Texas. Their second Greatest Hits album is scheduled to be released May 9th, 2006.
Two Pump Texaco
Diamond Rio Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She was pullin' on the hair that got caught in her lipstick
And with the smell of her perfume he forgot the smell of gasoline
As he was toppin' off her tank she said, "How far to Abilene?"
He sees 'em come
He sees 'em go
From the island of his
There's a rusted out Rambler up on the rack
And a pile of bald Goodyear's out in the back
He meets families on vacation, bikers and businessmen
He calls 'em "friend" but he'll probably never see 'em again
No he won't
He sees 'em come
He sees 'em go
From the island of his
Two pump Texaco
He keeps 'em moving
On down the road
Come back real soon
To his two pump Texaco
He's heard about those big city shop-n-go stations
With twenty automated self-service machines
He just feels sorry for them big city people
They must not know what service really means
He's got a sign that says
Last chance stop for at least two hundred miles
Maps, gas, soda pop,
Lucky Strikes and Moon Pies
Yeah, he's a third generation filler-up, full service man
He thanks the Lord for that "star" in the sky
And the grease on his hands
Yeah he does
He sees 'em come
He sees 'em go
From the island of his
Two pump Texaco
It's like a place we used to know
Come back real soon
To his two pump Texaco
The lyrics to Diamond Rio's song Two Pump Texaco tell the story of a gas station attendant who takes pride in his job and provides exceptional customer service. The song focuses on a particular experience where the attendant is filling up a woman's car while she fixes her makeup in the rearview mirror. In spite of the typical smell of gasoline, the attendant becomes engulfed in the scent of the woman's perfume. She asks how far it is to Abilene, while he sees many customers come and go from his small-town gas station.
The chorus describes how the attendant observes the customers as they come and go from his "two pump Texaco." Throughout the song, there is an underlying theme of small-town pride and nostalgia. The gas station attendant seems to take pride in being a third-generation "filler-up, full service man." The lyrics express how the attendant feels sorry for those who visit big city gas stations because they miss out on the exceptional service and unique experience that he offers.
Overall, Two Pump Texaco is a heartwarming song about the simpler days of small-town America, where a gas station attendant could become friends with customers, and people cherished genuine human connections.
Line by Line Meaning
He was wipin' motor oil off her dipstick
The man was helping the woman with her car, specifically checking her oil level with a dipstick.
She was pullin' on the hair that got caught in her lipstick
The woman was trying to remove a strand of hair that got stuck in her lipstick while the man helped her check her oil.
And with the smell of her perfume he forgot the smell of gasoline
The man was distracted by the woman's perfume that he didn't even smell the gasoline from the gas station.
As he was toppin' off her tank she said, 'How far to Abilene?'
While the man was pumping gas, the woman asked him how far the city of Abilene was located, probably needing directions.
He sees 'em come
The gas station attendant sees customers or cars arriving at the station.
He sees 'em go
The gas station attendant sees customers or cars leaving the station.
From the island of his Two pump Texaco
The gas station is referred to as an 'island', and it only has two gas pumps, as it's a Texaco gas station.
There's a rusted out Rambler up on the rack
There's a dilapidated car model named Rambler that needs repair standing on the mechanic's rack.
And a pile of bald Goodyear's out in the back
There's a pile of used Goodyear tires at the rear of the gas station, which has not enough tread depth, on which the mechanic may use as spares or sell them later.
He meets families on vacation, bikers and businessmen
The gas station attendant encounters various kinds of people like families on their vacation, bikers on their road trips, and businessmen on their travels in a day.
He calls 'em 'friend' but he'll probably never see 'em again
The gas station attendant greets and welcomes customers as though they were his friends. Still, he knows he'll hardly see them again after they leave the station.
No he won't
He won't be seeing his customers more than once on average, despite the hospitality and kindness he extends to them.
He keeps 'em moving
The gas station attendant ensures that the customers are leaving the station instantly after filling their tanks to keep them on the road and on their way.
On down the road
The driver continues his journey on the road after refueling from the gas station.
Come back real soon
The gas station attendant's message to the customers to revisit the station soon.
He's heard about those big city shop-n-go stations
The gas station attendant has heard about the automatic self-service gas stations in the cities.
With twenty automated self-service machines
Those big gas stations in the city have twenty self-checkout machines that are automated.
He just feels sorry for them big city people
The gas station attendant pities the city folks who go to large gas stations where attendants are absent, which could be less welcoming and less fulfilling than a typical gas station.
They must not know what service really means
The attendant thinks that the people in the big city have no concept of good customer service or don't realize its importance.
He's got a sign that says, 'Last chance stop for at least two hundred miles'
The gas station has a sign that indicates that it's the last one for the next 200 miles, so better gas up or purchase something before hitting the road again.
Maps, gas, soda pop, Lucky Strikes and Moon Pies
Aside from gasoline, the gas station also offers maps, carbonated drinks, Lucky Strike cigarettes, and Moon Pies—a southern pastry, snack food in the store.
Yeah, he's a third-generation filler-up, full-service man
Being the third-generation, the gas station attendant takes the job of filling up the gas tanks and providing full service to the customers, much like his ancestors before him.
He thanks the Lord for that 'star' in the sky and the grease on his hands
The gas station attendant is grateful for the north star in the sky that guides him and the grease on his hand that pushes him to work harder and finish the job satisfactorily.
It's like a place we used to know
The gas station reminds the listener of a recurring time where gas and customer service were more personalized.
Come back real soon
The gas station attendant invites the listeners to return to the place again shortly.
To his two pump Texaco
The gas station is a Texaco station, and it only has two gas pumps.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MICHAEL DULANEY, NEIL THRASHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind