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.
West Texas Waltz
FLACO JIMENEZ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Grab your sweetheart and jump in your car
Drive right on down to the bright side of town
You'll be glad you don't have to drive far
You'll be happy you don't have to go far
Park your pickups and Cadilacs, Fords and Renaults
And dance like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
You better lace up your best dancin shoes
Come see us, don't write us, you can stop your arthritis
Just by dancin' away your blues
Just by dancin' away your blues
So bind up your bunions with band-aids and gauze
Come dance like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
SOLO
I met a fine banker and I'd sure like to thank him
For the credit he gave me made me shout
He changed my whole attitude and to show him ny gratitude
I decided I'd just ask him out.
Yes I thought I just might ask her out
I said close up your windows, honey, lock up your vaults
And dance like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
We spent the next to the last dollar in the old ice cream parlor
On a milkshake and a malt and a pop
Then we heard us some sounds, there was a honky tonk lounge
Right Next to the ice cream shop
Next door to the ice cream shop
Now only two things are better than milkshakes and malts
And one is dancin' like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
And the other is somethin', but really it's nothin'
To speak of it's somethin' to do
If you've done it before, you'll be doin' it some more
Just as soon as the dancin' is through
Right after the dancin' is through
And if anybody asks you why, just tell it's because
You been dancin' like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz.
Flaco Jiménez's song "West Texas Waltz" is a joyful celebration of the joys of romance, dancing and having a good time. The song starts off with an invitation to hit the dance floor with your sweetheart and enjoy a night of fun and romance. Jiménez sings about driving down to the bright lights of town, where you can park your pickups, Cadillacs, Fords and Renaults, and dance the night away to the West Texas Waltz. He encourages grandmammy and grandpappy, and anyone else who wants to stay happy, to lace up their dancing shoes and come join in the fun.
The song celebrates the healing power of dancing, suggesting that it can help to banish the blues and alleviate arthritis. The second verse tells the story of how the singer met a fine banker who gave him credit when he needed it, changing his whole attitude. To show his gratitude, the singer decides to ask the banker out on a date, and they go to the old ice cream parlor to spend their next-to-last dollar on a milkshake and a malt. They hear some sounds coming from the honky-tonk lounge next door, and head over to dance like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz.
Overall, "West Texas Waltz" is a lively and upbeat song that celebrates love, dancing and the pleasures of life. Through its playful lyrics and catchy melody, the song invites listeners to forget their worries and join in the fun of the dance floor.
Line by Line Meaning
When you're ready for steady to go dancin', romancin'
When you are ready to have an evening of dancing and romance with a steady partner
Grab your sweetheart and jump in your car
Get your significant other and drive to the destination
Drive right on down to the bright side of town
Drive to the lively part of town
You'll be glad you don't have to drive far
You'll be happy that it's not a far drive
Park your pickups and Cadilacs, Fords and Renaults
Park your cars of different makes
And dance like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
Dance energetically to the West Texas Waltz
Grandmammy, grandpappy if you plan to stay happy
Elderly folks must dance to stay happy
You better lace up your best dancin shoes
Wear your best dance shoes
Come see us, don't write us, you can stop your arthritis
Come meet us, don't communicate by letter, dancing can help stop arthritis
Just by dancin' away your blues
Dance to overcome sadness
So bind up your bunions with band-aids and gauze
Wrap your painful feet carefully
SOLO
Instrumental break
I met a fine banker and I'd sure like to thank him
I met a good banker whom I’d like to thank
For the credit he gave me made me shout
I was happy and shouted due to the credit given to me
He changed my whole attitude and to show him ny gratitude
He changed my outlook and I thanked him
I decided I'd just ask him out.
I planned to ask the banker out
Yes I thought I just might ask her out
I intended to ask her out
I said close up your windows, honey, lock up your vaults
Secure your valuables before leaving
And dance like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
Dance energetically to the West Texas Waltz
We spent the next to the last dollar in the old ice cream parlor
We spent almost all our money at the ice cream shop
On a milkshake and a malt and a pop
We had milkshakes, malt, and soda
Then we heard us some sounds, there was a honky tonk lounge
We heard music, and there was a dance hall nearby
Right Next to the ice cream shop
Beside the ice cream shop
Now only two things are better than milkshakes and malts
Only two things are better than milkshakes and malted milk drinks
And one is dancin' like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
Dancing energetically to the West Texas Waltz is one of the two best things
And the other is somethin', but really it's nothin'
The other one is nothing much
To speak of it's somethin' to do
It's just something to do
If you've done it before, you'll be doin' it some more
If you’ve done it in the past, you’ll do it again
Just as soon as the dancin' is through
After the dancing finishes
Right after the dancin' is through
Immediately after the dancing ends
And if anybody asks you why, just tell it's because
If anyone asks the reason, explain that
You been dancin' like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz.
The reason is that you have been energetically dancing to the West Texas Waltz.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BUTCH HANCOCK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind