The four-time Grammy winner has acted in a number of films and been a guest-star on television. Lovett was married to actress Julia Roberts for a short time in the mid-1990s. In 2002, he was gored by a bull while working on his uncle's farm in Texas, but soon recovered and resumed touring.
South Texas Girl
Lyle Lovett Lyrics
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As we wander around in this dangerous world
Thank Mother Maria, there's nothing so sweet
As the undying love of a South Texas girl
The three in the front seat, they sat on each side
That green and white '58 Fairlane
It would drive down farm roads past open fields
As it was happening I never felt a thing
But now looking back it seems like it was everything
Singing with mom just so we could hear ourselves sing
Stealin' a drink from the cold can in daddy's lap
Protected by only a small thin brown paper sack
And the wind blew the echoes of long faded voices
And they'd sing me a song that the old cowboys sang
And I didn't know what the words meant or anything
I was just singing because I was supposed to
St. Mother Maria, watch over us please
As we wander around in this dangerous world
Thank Mother Maria, there's nothing so sweet
As the undying love of a South Texas girl
And with the windows wide open, it felt hot to us anyway
We three bound together on a day just like any day
They told me and taught me and showed me and bought me
Whatever I wanted from the corner you told them
You said the name Corpus Christi means the body of Jesus
Pronounce it Refugio city folks they don't know
It looks like Palacios but sounds like the lashes
Just listen the next time you watchin', Sid Lasher
And the wind blew the echoes of long faded voices
And they would sing me a song that the old cowboys sang
And I didn't know what the words meant or anything
I was just singing
St. Mother Maria, watch over us please
As we wander around in this dangerous world
Thank Mother Maria, there's nothing so sweet
As the undying love of a South Texas girl
And I didn't know what the words meant or anything
I was just singing
Now these days the car seats and open container laws
Show sure correctness, leaves no room for Santa Claus
Sitting right next to me she looks like that used be
Song that they sang for me
And with the windows wide open, it feels right to us anyway
The two bound together on a day just like any day
The wind blows the echoes of long faded voices
And they sing us a song that the old cowboys sang
And now that I know what the words mean and everything
I'm still singing
St. Mother Maria, watch over us please
As we wander around in this dangerous world
Thank Mother Maria, there's nothing so sweet
As the undying love of a South Texas girl
St. Mother Maria, watch over us please
As we stumble around in this dangerous world
Thank Mother Maria, there's nothing so sweet
As the undying love of a South Texas girl
As the undying love of a South Texas girl
St. Mother Maria, watch over us please
As we wander around in this dangerous world
Thank Mother Maria, there's nothing so sweet
As the undying love of a South Texas girl
St. Mother Maria, watch over us please
As we wander around in this dangerous world
Thank Mother Maria, there's nothing so sweet
As the undying love of a South Texas girl
The song South Texas Girl by Lyle Lovett is a tribute to his childhood, family, and home in Texas. The lyrics describe his memories of riding in his family's 1958 Fairlane with his parents and singing along to old cowboy songs. The phrase "St. Mother Maria" is repeated throughout the song as a plea for protection and a reminder of his Catholic upbringing.
The first verse invokes the protective power of St. Mother Maria as they navigate the dangers of the world. The second verse describes the memories of riding in the car with his parents, stealing sips of beer from his father's lap, and singing along to old cowboy songs. The third verse reflects on the passage of time and how modern laws and expectations have changed his experience of driving with loved ones. Despite these changes, the memories and love remain undying.
Overall, the lyrics celebrate the simple joys of family, music, and open landscapes of South Texas and provide a nostalgic look back at a time and place that holds a special meaning to Lyle Lovett.
Line by Line Meaning
St. Mother Maria, watch over us please
Invocation to St. Mother Maria to protect from the dangers of the world
As we wander around in this dangerous world
Acknowledgment of the world's dangers and the uncertainty of life
Thank Mother Maria, there's nothing so sweet
Gratitude to St. Mother Maria for the sweetness of true love
As the undying love of a South Texas girl
A tribute to the unwavering love of a South Texas girl
The three in the front seat, they sat on each side
Description of the three people in the car, positioned at each side of the front seat
That green and white '58 Fairlane
Identification of the car that they were in
It would drive down farm roads past open fields
Recollection of driving down rural roads through open fields
Seeming like no big deal
Impression that at the time, it was just a normal occurrence
As it was happening I never felt a thing
Reflection that during the moment nothing seemed significant
But now looking back it seems like it was everything
Realization that in hindsight, these moments were significant
Singing with mom just so we could hear ourselves sing
Memories of singing with mom just for fun
Stealin' a drink from the cold can in daddy's lap
Recalling the act of secretly taking a sip from their dad's drink
Protected by only a small thin brown paper sack
Awareness of the lack of real protection from the paper sack
And the wind blew the echoes of long faded voices
The wind carrying echoes of distant voices
And they'd sing me a song that the old cowboys sang
Memories of hearing old cowboy songs
And I didn't know what the words meant or anything
Admission of not understanding the meaning behind the songs
I was just singing because I was supposed to
Explanation that singing was an unconscious response
And with the windows wide open, it felt hot to us anyway
Remembrance of being hot in the car despite the open windows
We three bound together on a day just like any day
Reference to the three individuals in the car and the normalcy of the moment
They told me and taught me and showed me and bought me
Detailing the ways that others had influenced and supported them
Whatever I wanted from the corner you told them
Recollection of being able to get whatever they wanted
You said the name Corpus Christi means the body of Jesus
Reference to a lesson about the meaning behind the name Corpus Christi
Pronounce it Refugio city folks they don't know
Advice on how to pronounce Corpus Christi for outsiders
It looks like Palacios but sounds like the lashes
Description of how to identify Refugio with similar-sounding names
Just listen the next time you watchin', Sid Lasher
Unclear statement about listening to Sid Lasher
Now these days the car seats and open container laws
Acknowledgment of stricter laws and regulations in modern times
Show sure correctness, leaves no room for Santa Claus
Impression that the laws leave no room for absurdity or fantasy
Sitting right next to me she looks like that used be
The person next to them reminds them of the past
Song that they sang for me
Recollection of an old song that others sang for them
And now that I know what the words mean and everything
Realization of understanding the meaning behind the old songs
I'm still singing
Conclusion that the love for singing and the past remains
Lyrics © Regard Music
Written by: LYLE LOVETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind