Marion Bandy was born and grew up in Meridian, Mississippi, hometown of the country singer Jimmie Rodgers. He later stated: "My grandfather worked on the railroads with Jimmie Rodgers. He was the boss of the railway yard in Meridian and Jimmie Rodgers worked for him. He said that he played his guitar all the time between work."
He was nicknamed Moe by his father when he was a child. The Bandy family moved to San Antonio, Texas when Moe was six. His mother played piano and sang. Bandy was taught to play the guitar by his father who had a country band called the Mission City Playboys, but made little use of the ability until he was in his teens. His father's wish that Moe also play the fiddle never materialized.
He made some appearances with the Mission City Playboys but generally during his high school years he showed little interest in music and a great deal of interest in rodeos. He tried bronco-busting and bull riding and by the time he was 16, both he and his brother Mike were competing in rodeos all over Texas.
In 1962, tired of the bruises and fractured bones, he began to pursue a career in country music. He assembled a band that he called Moe And The Mavericks and found work playing small beer joints, honky-tonks, and clubs over a wide area around San Antonio. When he was young he tried to sound like Hank Williams and George Jones - "I even had my hair cut short like his."
Although work was plentiful, the pay was poor and during the day he worked for his father as a sheet metal worker, a job that lasted for 12 years, during which time he made a few recordings for various small labels. In 1964, he had his first single, "Lonely Girl", on the San Antonio based Satin label, but it made little impression. He did manage to get his band a residency on a local television program called Country Corner and in this capacity, he provided backing for several touring stars.
In 1973, he went solo when record producer Ray Baker, who had listened to his demos, suggested that he come to Nashville, Tennessee. Moe Bandy obtained a loan and recorded a song called "I Just Started Hatin' Cheatin' Songs Today". Initially released on Footprint Records with a limited pressing of 500 copies, it soon came to the attention of the Atlanta-based GRC label. In March 1974, it entered the US country chart, eventually peaking at number 17. Other minor hits followed, including "It Was Always So Easy To Find An Unhappy Woman (Till I Started Looking For Mine)" and "Don't Anyone Make Love At Home Anymore".
In 1975, a song written by his friend Lefty Frizzell and Whitey Shaffer gave him a number 7 country hit, firmly establishing his reputation. "Bandy The Rodeo Clown" was to become not only one of his own favorites but also one of his most popular recordings. (Shaffer was greatly amused by the way Bandy pronounced woman as "woh-min", and began to send him songs with the "woh-min" in them.)
Bandy sang in a simple style that extracted the utmost from his songs of lost love, sadness, and life. Although by no means a Hank Williams sound-alike, his method of putting across his honky-tonk songs showed the distinct influence of Williams. He met with immediate success at Columbia Records with Paul Craft's "Hank Williams, You Wrote My Life" and quickly added further hits, including "Here I Am Drunk Again".
From 1977 through 1979, he was a country chart regular with singles such as "I'm Sorry For You, My Friend" (the song Williams had written for their mutual friend Lefty Frizzell), "Cowboys Ain't Supposed To Cry", "That's What Makes The Jukebox Play", and a duet with Janie Fricke, "It's A Cheating Situation".
In 1979, he achieved his first solo number 1 with "I Cheated Me Right Out of You".
That same year, in 1979, Bandy joined forces with Joe Stampley and recorded a tongue in cheek novelty single: "Just Good Ol' Boys". The song went on to top the country chart and it led to a continuation of their partnership. The duo, commonly known as "Moe and Joe", had more novelty hits between 1979 and 1985, including "Holding The Bag", "Tell Ole I Ain't Here", and "Hey Joe (Hey Moe)". In 1984, they ran into copyright problems with their parody of the then-current Boy George/Culture Club phenomenon: "Where's The Dress" used the guitar-riff introduction from Culture Club's hit "Karma Chameleon".
During the 1980s, Bandy maintained a steady line of solo successes, including "Yesterday Once More", "Rodeo Romeo", "She's Not Really Cheatin' (She's Just Gettin' Even)", and "Till I'm Too Old To Die Young".
Bandy also registered duet successes with Judy Bailey ("Following The Feeling") and Becky Hobbs ("Let's Get Over Them Together"). Over the years, he maintained a touring schedule estimated at 250 to 300 days a year and appeared on numerous network television shows. In later years, he cut back considerably on his schedule. He was never a regular Grand Ole Opry member, but has made guest appearances from time to time.
Bandy summed up his music when he said, "I really think my songs are about life. There's cheating, drinking and divorcing going on everywhere and that's what hardcore country music is all about." He added: "If I'd done all the things I sing about, I'd be dead."
Critics reviewing some of his later recordings wrote that it was strange that at a time when more artists were actually recording his type of music, some of his recordings were spoiled by string and/or choir arrangements, and advised that an immediate return to his roots was necessary. Bandy opened his popular Americana Theatre in Branson, Missouri in 1991 and performs frequently there.
Moe, along with his brother, Mike Bandy, a six time NFR bull riding qualifier, were inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2007.
You're Gonna Lose Her Like That
Moe Bandy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Bought her a new dress this morning
She looks like the lady she is
And feels like a woman
She was ready to spend the night on the town
Like you promised
But you let her down
Now she's in her gown at home again
You're gonna lose her like that
Leaving a woman with feelings
Spending her nights looking back
You're gonna lose her like that
It's a daily affair to stop for a drink after working
A little time on your own before you go home
You deserve it
But the new girl you met there last week
She keeps returning
And your woman can tell there's a wildfire going
You're gonna lose her like that
Buddy you're playing with danger
And cheating's a guaranteed danger
You're gonna lose her like that
You're gonna lose her like that
You've got a woman with feelings
It's a cold matter of fact
You're gonna lose her like that
The lyrics of Moe Bandy's song "You're Gonna Lose Her Like That" describe a woman who has prepared herself for a night out on the town with her partner. She has fixed up her hair and bought herself a new dress, feeling confident and like a true lady. However, despite the promise of an evening together, her partner has let her down and left her at home in her gown. She is left feeling disappointed and frustrated, spending her nights looking back on what could have been.
The song also highlights the daily routine of stopping for a drink after work, which is depicted as a form of escapism. However, this routine becomes dangerous when a partner begins to cheat, and the singer warns his audience that this behavior is a guaranteed way to lose one's partner. In the end, the chorus of the song is clear: leaving a woman with feelings and spending her nights looking back is a surefire way to lose her like that.
Bandy's lyrics paint a realistic picture of relationships that are often taken for granted. The woman in the song is shown to be a strong, confident individual who is ready to enjoy her night out, but is let down by her partner. The song serves as a warning against taking one's partner for granted and the consequences that can come from infidelity.
Line by Line Meaning
She fixed up her hair
She put effort into her appearance to look nice for you.
Bought her a new dress this morning
She wanted to feel special and look good for you.
She looks like the lady she is
She looks elegant and graceful.
And feels like a woman
She feels confident and beautiful.
She was ready to spend the night on the town
She was excited to go out and have fun with you.
Like you promised
You agreed to take her out and spend time with her.
But you let her down
You didn't keep your promise.
Now she's in her gown at home again
She's disappointed and upset that she didn't get to go out.
You're gonna lose her like that
If you continue to neglect her, she will leave you.
Leaving a woman with feelings
She has emotions and needs that you're ignoring.
Spending her nights looking back
She's unhappy and reflecting on the things you're not doing for her.
It's a daily affair to stop for a drink after working
You make going to the bar a routine part of your day.
A little time on your own before you go home
You use the bar as an excuse to have time for yourself.
You deserve it
You feel entitled to do what you want.
But the new girl you met there last week
You're attracted to someone else.
She keeps returning
You have a growing relationship with this new girl.
And your woman can tell there's a wildfire going
Your girlfriend knows that you're cheating on her.
Buddy you're playing with danger
Your behavior is risky and could lead to disaster.
And cheating's a guaranteed danger
If you continue to cheat, you will destroy your relationship.
You're gonna lose her like that
If you don't change, you will lose her.
You've got a woman with feelings
You have a girlfriend who cares about you and wants your affection.
It's a cold matter of fact
It's true that your actions are hurting her.
You're gonna lose her like that
If you don't start treating her better, she will leave you.
Contributed by Olivia M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Ida Fillmore
Love this song ! Great share Moe is one of my favs Thanks for sharing Wayne!!
Dave Wollenberg
Born Marion Franklin Bandy. Moe hit #34 in Billboard, 12-17-83. Thanx, Wayne, for postin' it. Have a great rest of the week!
Paul Gavin
Precious memories