Leonardo " Flaco" Jiménez began performing, at the age of seven, with his father, Santiago Jimenez, who was a pioneer of conjunto music and began recording at age fifteen as a member of Los Caporales. He played in the San Antonio area for several years, and then began working with Douglas Sahm in the 1960s. Sahm, better known as the founding member of the Sir Douglas Quintet, played with Jiménez for some time. Flaco then went on to New York City and worked with Dr. John, David Lindley, Peter Rowan, Ry Cooder and Bob Dylan. He appeared on Cooder's world music album Chicken Skin Music and on the Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge. This led to greater awareness of his music outside America and, after touring Europe with Ry Cooder, he returned to tour in America with his own band, and on a joint bill with Peter Rowan. Jiménez, Peter Rowan and Wally Drogos were the original members of a band called The Free Mexican Airforce.
Jiménez won a Grammy Award in 1986 for Ay Te Dejo en San Antonio, one of his father's songs. He was also a member of the Tejano fusion group Texas Tornados, with Augie Meyers, Doug Sahm and Freddy Fender. The Texas Tornados won a Grammy Award in 1990, and Jiménez earned one on his own in 1996, when his self-titled album Flaco Jiménez won the Grammy Award for Best Mexican-American Performance. In 1999, Flaco earned another Grammy Award for Best Tejano Performance for Said and Done (released by Barbed Wire Records), and one for Best Mexican-American Performance as a part of supergroup Los Super Seven. Jiménez has also won a Best Video award at the Tejano Music Awards and earned a Lifetime Achievement Award from Billboard Latin Magazine for "Streets of Bakersfield" with Dwight Yoakam and Buck Owens.
Jiménez appeared in the movie Picking Up the Pieces, with Woody Allen and Sharon Stone, and also featured on the soundtrack. His music has featured in the soundtrack for other movies such as Y Tu Mamá También, The Border, Tin Cup, and Striptease. The Hohner company collaborated with Jiménez to create the Flaco Jimenez Signature Series of accordions.
His brother, Santiago Jiménez, Jr., is also an accomplished accordionist who has recorded extensively.
Jiménez's latest CD, Ya Volvi De La Guerra, was issued in 2009 by Fiesta Records.
The Girls From Texas
FLACO JIMENEZ Lyrics
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Hadn't known her for too long when I had to let her go
You see, she had a razor, was ten inches or so
And every night you'd hear her knocking at my door
She said, Baby, I'll give you the clothes on my back
You can have everything that I've got in my shack
But if you ever try to leave they'll take your out in sack
Cause me and my razor will see to that"
That's the way the girls are from Texas
That's the way the girls are from Texas
I thought about my situation, decided not to tarry
For my own self preservation I decided we should marry
When the preacher started reading bout till death do us part
I told him, "Skip it, we had that understanding right from the start"
That's the way the girls are from Texas
That's the way the girls are from Texas Houston to San Antone
That's the way the girls are from Texas got to love'em right or leave em alone
Well, we settled down, got me a little old job, 65 Fairlane Ford
Every Friday night I would stop in and cash my pay check down at the grocery store
They had a little girl worked in there, must have been about seventeen
She was the cutest thing I had ever seen
It's the same old story and I'm afraid it wasn't too very long
Before we had fallen deeply in love and I knew it was wrong
I said baby, we got to stop this thing right here
Or my woman is gonna cut my throat from ear to ear, that's right
Tearful suffocation, she looked up in my face
I could feel her heart was breaking as these sad words she did say
"You should have told me you was married, baby"
She pulled out a forty-five and let me have it, right smack between the eyes
That's the way the girls are from Texas
That's the way the girls are from Texas
That's the way the girls are from Texas
She was guilty, I was dead
Now, what'd you think that the old judge said ?
"Ah, that's just the way the girls are down here in Texas Case dismissed!"
That's the way the girls are from Texas
That's the way the girls are from Texas Houston to San Antone
That's the way the girls are from Texas got to love'em right or leave'em alone, boy
The song "The Girls From Texas" by Flaco Jiménez tells the story of a man who meets a girl from Texas and falls in love with her. However, she possesses a razor and warns him that if he tries to leave her, she will kill him. Despite the danger, the man decides to marry her. But, as time goes on, he falls in love with another girl and tells his Texas wife that they must stop their relationship. She becomes enraged and shoots him with a forty-five. The judge, dismissing the case, points out that this is just how the girls are in Texas.
The song is a cautionary tale about the dangers of falling in love with someone who is unstable or has a dangerous temper. It also highlights the unique cultural characteristics of Texas and the stereotypes surrounding women from this state. The lyrics are presented in a humorous manner, with a catchy melody and a traditional Tex-Mex musical arrangement.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I met a girl from Texas 'bout a year ago
I encountered a woman from Texas approximately one year ago.
Hadn't known her for too long when I had to let her go
After a short period of time of knowing her, I had to end the relationship.
You see, she had a razor, was ten inches or so
She owned a razor that was approximately ten inches long.
And every night you'd hear her knocking at my door
She would frequently come knocking at my door in the evening.
She said, Baby, I'll give you the clothes on my back
She offered to give me all of her possessions, including the clothes she was wearing.
You can have everything that I've got in my shack
She offered to give me everything she owned in her living space.
But if you ever try to leave they'll take your out in sack
However, if I ever attempted to leave her, she and her razor would harm me.
That's the way the girls are from Texas
This is a common trait among women from Texas.
I thought about my situation, decided not to tarry
After considering my circumstances, I chose not to hesitate.
For my own self preservation I decided we should marry
For my own safety, I decided to marry her.
When the preacher started reading bout till death do us part
During the marriage ceremony, when the preacher mentioned the vow of 'till death do us part.'
I told him, "Skip it, we had that understanding right from the start"
I told the preacher to skip that part of the ceremony because we had already agreed to it before getting married.
That's the way the girls are from Texas
This behavior is typical among women from Texas.
Houston to San Antone
This behavior is evident across the state of Texas, from Houston to San Antone.
got to love'em right or leave em alone
To avoid negative consequences, you must either love them properly or simply leave them be.
Well, we settled down, got me a little old job, 65 Fairlane Ford
We established ourselves and I secured a job driving a 1965 Fairlane Ford.
Every Friday night I would stop in and cash my pay check down at the grocery store
Every Friday night, I would cash my paycheck at the grocery store.
They had a little girl worked in there, must have been about seventeen
There was a young woman who worked at the grocery store who appeared to be seventeen years old.
She was the cutest thing I had ever seen
I found her to be the most adorable person I had ever laid eyes on.
It's the same old story and I'm afraid it wasn't too very long
It's a common occurrence and unfortunately didn't take very long to happen.
Before we had fallen deeply in love and I knew it was wrong
Before we had both become wholly infatuated with each other, and I recognized that it was inappropriate.
I said baby, we got to stop this thing right here
I spoke to her, indicating that our inappropriate relationship needed to come to an end.
Or my woman is gonna cut my throat from ear to ear, that's right
Otherwise, my partner would harm me severely with her razor blade.
Tearful suffocation, she looked up in my face
She was overcome with emotion and gasping for air, then looked at me.
I could feel her heart was breaking as these sad words she did say
I perceived how shattered her heart was, as she spoke heartbreaking words.
"You should have told me you was married, baby"
She said that I should have disclosed that I was already married.
She pulled out a forty-five and let me have it, right smack between the eyes
She removed a .45 caliber firearm and shot me squarely in the forehead.
She was guilty, I was dead
She was found guilty of murder and I was deceased.
Now, what'd you think that the old judge said ?
What do you suppose the judge uttered?
"Ah, that's just the way the girls are down here in Texas Case dismissed!"
The judge declared, 'That's simply how women are in Texas, case dismissed!'
Houston to San Antone
This trait transcends regions within Texas, from Houston to San Antone.
got to love'em right or leave'em alone, boy
To avoid negative consequences, it's necessary to either love them suitably or simply not engage with them at all.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CLIFFORD CHAMBERS, JIMMY HOLIDAY, JIMMY LEWIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind