Born in Taft, Texas, LaRue actually spent the majority of his adolescence north of the Red River, where he was raised in Southeastern Oklahoma . He never really pictured himself doing anything else but making good music, so LaRue eventually made his way to the state’s Red Dirt hotbed of Stillwater, where he began to develop his individualized style from a widespread range of influences.
From Willie Nelson to Ray Charles, to The Grateful Dead and Kris Kristofferson, LaRue’s emerging style impressively blends varied elements of country, blues, and soulful rock into cohesive, vocal driven performances. His abilities earned the immediate respect of then “up and coming” peers including Cody Canada, Mike McClure, Jason Boland, and other cohorts of the revitalizing Texas and Red Dirt circuits (now electrifying audiences nationwide.)
In 2002, both fans and industry took good notice of LaRue after he spearheaded The Organic Boogie Band and released ”Downtown,” which was recorded in private sessions at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa and mixed in a trailer on the side of a cliff in Bartlesville,OK. It was just the beginning, as the debut cemented LaRue’s following and inspired a move to New Braunfels, Texas, where a vibrant music community and a persistent touring schedule spawned a vast response.
Fans anxiously awaited the August 2005 release of Stoney LaRue-the Red Dirt Album, which hit the Billboard sales charts in its debut week. A far cry from the mixing trailer on the cliff, The Red Dirt Album was recorded with a tight circle of players and professionals in a studio setting. The record was a pinnacle effort for LaRue and has inarguably established his triple threat status as a truly gifted vocalist, player, and performer.
Armed with golden ear musicianship, an amusing wit, and soulful magnetism, LaRue’s shows are infused with an uplifting quality, a cathartic barroom brand of spirituality, where venues are complimented for good bar “feng shui,” and where time and dimension can be traversed via emotive lyrics and melodic riffs. A charismatic performer, LaRue’s flawless vocals can draw a crowd to a open mouth level of sonic mesmerization, and next have them singing “Forever Young” so loudly that you can’t hear anything else.
At 28 years old, Stoney LaRue now performs close to 300 dates a year at top festivals and venues across the nation and even the Caribbean, sharing bills with renowned acts like Lee Ann Womack, Gary Allan,Dierks Bentley, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Radney Foster, and others. With a newly assembled band that includes Jeremy Bryant (drums), Jesse Fritz (bass), Rodney Pyeatt (guitar), and Steve Littleton (keys), Stoney LaRue is poised for his upcoming addition to the famed Live at Billy Bob’s series and even greater horizons to come.
The music is undeniably inside of Stoney LaRue, but he’s the type of artist that doesn’t HAVE to point it out to you, his belief in the music is strong enough that it just powers through transparently. Stoney LaRue is not trying to be anybody but the artist that he is, and his sincerity just seeps out, spills off the stage, and overtakes any room.
Idabel Blues
Stoney LaRue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tryin' to get away
Goin' to the bayou
Where no one knows my name
No one knows my name
Won't you hide me Pa
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Won't you hide me Pa
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Is my grave
Well, I had a job real good pay
Watching summer's crops
Made a hundred bucks a day
Guardin' those green tops
Guardin' those green tops
Won't you hide me Pa
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Is my grave
Won't you hide me Pa
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Is my grave
August night up real high
Rifle in my hand
Whiskey drinks, forty winks
They cleared my buddy's land
Cleared my buddy's land
Won't you hide me Pa
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Is my grave
Won't you hide me Pa
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Is my grave
Well I spent my time in Idabel
Just tryin' to get ahead
Friends I've known all my life
Are wishin' I was dead
Wishin' I was dead
Won't you hide me Pa
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Is my grave
Won't you hide me Pa
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Is my grave
Running hard, runnin' fast
Tryin' to get away
Goin' to the bayou
Where no one knows my name
No one knows my name
Won't you hide me Pa
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Is my grave
Won't you hide me Pa
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Is my grave
Won't you hide me Pa
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Is my grave
Won't you hide me Pa
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Is my grave
Stoney LaRue's song "Idabel Blues" tells the story of a man on the run, trying to escape the consequences of his actions, specifically a crime he committed against a close friend. He is consumed by fear and paranoia, seeking refuge in the anonymity of the bayou, where he hopes to find safety from the law and the people he has left behind. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a man living in constant fear, running hard and fast to escape his past, marked by death and destruction.
Through the repetition of the chorus, "Won't you hide me Pa 'fore the Red River is my grave," the song captures the desperation of the singer, who is risking everything to find safety. The Red River represents a literal and metaphorical boundary beyond which the man's fate is uncertain. The gripping storyline is complemented by LaRue's blues-style vocals, which enhance the raw emotions of the lyrics. "Idabel Blues" is a powerful reminder of the consequences of our actions and a testament to the power of storytelling in music.
Line by Line Meaning
Runnin' hard and runnin' fast
I'm hurrying and going as fast as I can.
Tryin' to get away
I am attempting to escape from something or someone.
Goin' to the bayou
I want to go to a place where I'll be hidden or not easily found.
Where no one knows my name
I want to go to a place where no one knows me, and I can remain anonymous.
Won't you hide me Pa
Please help me hide from danger, Pa.
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Before I perish in the Red River, please help me hide.
Is my grave
If I don't find a place to hide, I'll end up in my grave.
Well, I had a job real good pay
I had a job that paid me well.
Watching summer's crops
I was tasked with keeping an eye on the crops.
Made a hundred bucks a day
I made a hundred dollars every day.
Guardin' those green tops
I was protecting the green plants/crops from harm.
August night up real high
During the late summer night, I was high up (elevated or in the air).
Rifle in my hand
I had a rifle in my hand, which could be a danger to others.
Whiskey drinks, forty winks
I had drinks of whiskey and then fell asleep for a short nap.
They cleared my buddy's land
Someone removed (cleared) my friend's land without permission or warning.
Well I spent my time in Idabel
I lived in Idabel town for some time.
Just tryin' to get ahead
I was attempting to move forward or succeed in my life.
Friends I've known all my life
The people I've known my whole life (friends) were causing me troubles.
Are wishin' I was dead
Those same long-time friends wished for me to pass away or perish.
Running hard, runnin' fast
I am continuing to push myself and run as quickly as possible.
Goin' to the bayou
I'm heading to that hidden place I mentioned earlier.
Won't you hide me Pa
Again, I'm pleading with my father for help in hiding.
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Before I die and end up in the Red River, I need assistance with hiding.
Is my grave
If I can't find a place to hide, it'll only lead to my death.
Won't you hide me Pa
One last time, I'm am urging my father to offer protection and help me hide.
'Fore the Red River is my grave
Now more than ever, I'm emphasizing the urgency of my situation.
Is my grave
If I don't find help hiding, I'll definitely die.
Contributed by Alaina K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.