Clark was born in Monahans, Texas and eventually settled in Nashville, where he helped create the progressive country and outlaw country genres. His songs "L.A. Freeway" and "Desperados Waiting for a Train" that helped launch his career were covered by numerous performers.
He was an accomplished luthier and often played his own guitars. He achieved success as a songwriter with Jerry Jeff Walker’s recordings of "L.A. Freeway" and "Desperados Waiting For A Train". Artists such as Johnny Cash, David Allan Coe, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs, Steve Wariner, Brad Paisley, John Denver, Alan Jackson, Rodney Crowell, The Highwaymen, and Kenny Chesney have recorded Clark’s songs. Emmylou Harris has accompanied him on several recordings, particularly his own version of "Desperados Waiting For A Train" on his first album, Old No. 1, released in 1975. Clark is frequently referred to as "The Fifth Highwayman".
Clark has been a mentor to such other singers as Steve Earle and Rodney Crowell. He organized Earle's first job as a writer in Nashville. In the 1970s, the Clarks' home in Nashville was an open house for songwriters and musicians and it features in the documentary Heartworn Highways, an evocation of the songwriter scene in Nashville at that time. (Snapper/Catfish, 1981/2003, with Townes Van Zandt, David Allan Coe, and Steve Earle). Numerous artists have charted with Clark-penned tunes. In 1982, Bobby Bare made it to the Country Top Twenty with Clark’s "New Cut Road". That same year, bluegrass leader Ricky Skaggs hit No. 1 with Clark’s "Heartbroke", a song that permanently established his reputation as an ingenious songwriter. Among the many others who have covered Clark's songs are Vince Gill, who took "Oklahoma Borderline" to the Top Ten in 1985; The Highwaymen, who introduced "Desperados Waiting For A Train" to a new generation that same year; and John Conlee, whose interpretation of “The Carpenter” rode into the Top Ten in 1987.
Steve Wariner took his cover of Clark's "Baby I’m Yours" to No. 1 in 1988; Asleep at the Wheel charted with Clark's "Blowin’ Like a Bandit" the same year. Crowell was Clark’s co-writer on "She’s Crazy for Leavin’", which in 1989 became the third of five straight #l hits for Crowell. Brad Paisley and Alan Jackson cover Clark’s "Out in the Parkin' Lot," co-written with Darrell Scott, on Paisley's Time Well Wasted CD. Jimmy Buffett has covered Clark’s "Boats to Build" and "Cinco de Mayo in Memphis". Clark credits Townes Van Zandt as being a major influence on his songwriting. They were best friends for many years until Van Zandt's death in 1997, and since then Clark has included one of Van Zandt's compositions on most of his albums. In 1995, he recorded a live album with Van Zandt and Steve Earle, Together at the Bluebird Cafe, which was released in October 2001. Other live material can be found on his album Keepers.
In 2006 Clark released Workbench Songs. The album was nominated for "Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album" at the Grammy Awards. He also toured with Lyle Lovett, Joe Ely, and John Hiatt in 2004, 2005 and 2007.
In May 2008, Clark canceled four concerts after breaking his leg. After two months on crutches, he began to perform again on July 4 at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, DC where he appeared with Verlon Thompson. On June 20, 2009, Clark announced a new album entitled "Somedays the Song Writes You" which was released on September 22, 2009. It features originals along with a Townes Van Zandt song entitled "If I Needed You".
In December 2011 This One's For Him: A Tribute to Guy Clark (a two-CD set) was released by Icehouse Music.
Guy Clark won the Grammy Award for Best Folk Album in 2014 for My Favorite Picture of You.
On May 17, 2016, Clark's death was announced on his Facebook page.
Clark was married to songwriter and artist, Susanna Clark from 1972 through her death from cancer on June 27, 2012.
Texas Cookin'
Guy Clark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm going down to save my soul
Get that bar-be -que and chili
Eat my fill then come back home
I'm gonna take my baby with me
We gonna have a high ol' time
We gonna eat till we get silly
Sho' do make a beer taste fine
[Chorus]
Oh my, momma ain't that Texas Cookin' something
Oh my, momma it'll stop yo' belly and backbone bumpin'
Oh my, momma ain't that Texas Cookin' good
Oh my, momma eat it everyday if I could
I know a man that cook armadillo
Tastes so sweet he calls it pie
I know a woman makes pan dulce
Tastes so good it gets you high
Get them enchiladas greasy
Get them steaks chicken fried
Sho' do make a man feel happy
To see white gravy on the side
[Chorus]
I know a place that got fried okra
Beat anything I ever saw
I know a man that cook cabrito
It must be against the law
We gonna get a big ol' sausage
A big ol' plate of ranch style beans
I could eat the heart of Texas
We gonna need some brand new jeans
The song "Texas Cookin'" by Guy Clark is a celebration of Texan cuisine, with the singer expressing his excitement about going to Austin, Texas to indulge in the state’s famous delicacies. The song talks about trying a variety of meat dishes, including barbeque and chili, and mentions that the singer knows a man who can cook armadillo and a woman who makes pan dulce. Despite the multitude of food options available, the song emphasizes that the singer plans to eat until he gets silly, and how the dishes make beer taste fine. The chorus repeats the phrase “Ain't that Texas Cookin' something,” and emphasizes that it stops the belly and backbone from bumpin’.
The song perfectly encapsulates Texas’s love for food and its unique culinary offerings. It highlights that Texas is more than just a state where the food is good; it is an experience in itself. The song serves as a tribute to not just the cuisine, but also to the state’s culture, which is uniquely infused in every dish.
Guy Clark's love for food is well known, and it is often reflected in his music. Throughout his career, he wrote many songs that celebrated food and beverage, including "Texas Cookin’" and "Homegrown Tomatoes." Many of his songs are influenced by his Texas roots, which he proudly displayed in his work as a celebrated songwriter.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm going down to Austin, Texas
I am heading to Austin, Texas.
I'm going down to save my soul
I am going to Austin to rejuvenate myself.
Get that bar-be-que and chili
I want to eat some barbecue and chili.
Eat my fill then come back home
I want to eat as much as I can and then return home.
I'm gonna take my baby with me
I am taking my partner with me.
We gonna have a high ol' time
We are looking forward to having a great time.
We gonna eat till we get silly
We plan to eat a lot and enjoy ourselves.
Sho' do make a beer taste fine
Eating good food makes beer taste better.
[Chorus]
Refrain
Oh my, momma ain't that Texas Cookin' something
Texas cooking is really amazing!
Oh my, momma it'll stop yo' belly and backbone bumpin'
The food is so filling that it calms you down.
Oh my, momma ain't that Texas Cookin' good
Texas cooking is really delicious!
Oh my, momma eat it everyday if I could
I would eat Texas cooking every day if I could.
I know a man that cook armadillo
I know someone who can cook armadillo meat.
Tastes so sweet he calls it pie
The way he cooks it makes it taste sweet.
I know a woman makes pan dulce
I know a woman who makes pan dulce.
Tastes so good it gets you high
The taste of pan dulce is so good that it makes you feel elevated.
Get them enchiladas greasy
I want enchiladas with extra grease.
Get them steaks chicken fried
I want chicken-fried steaks.
Sho' do make a man feel happy
Eating such food makes me feel ecstatic.
To see white gravy on the side
I enjoy seeing white gravy accompanying my food.
[Chorus]
Refrain
I know a place that got fried okra
I know a place where you can eat amazing fried okra.
Beat anything I ever saw
It is the best-fried okra I have ever had.
I know a man that cook cabrito
I know a man who can cook cabrito.
It must be against the law
It must be illegal to cook it that well.
We gonna get a big ol' sausage
We are going to get a large sausage.
A big ol' plate of ranch style beans
We will also get a big plate of ranch-style beans.
I could eat the heart of Texas
I love Texas cooking so much that I could eat anything.
We gonna need some brand new jeans
We are going to eat so much that we will need new clothes.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GUY CLARK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind