The fact that all that these Texas music titans, on their first go-round as The Flatlanders in 1972, were completely rejected by the country music establishment is surprising in retrospect but, ultimately, poetic. That each went on to have formidable solo careers is a testament to their talent and determination. Add to this their diverse yet complimentary styles - Joe the street-wise rocker, Jimmie Dale the mystic with the classic country voice and Butch the cerebral folk singer - and you've got a story of one of the most extraordinary kinships in American musical history.
It took these Flatlanders a mere three decades to release the sequel to their legendary debut. So the swift arrival of the group's latest New West album Wheels of Fortune - which comes hard on the heels of 2002's widely acclaimed Now Again - is a delightful and very welcome surprise. The fourteen songs that make up Wheels Of Fortune are absolute wonders of songcraft, sung by three of the most authentic voices in music today.
Joe, Jimmie and Butch initially reunited as The Flatlanders in 1998 to do a one-off recording, at the behest of Robert Redford's people, for the soundtrack of The Horse Whisperer. It was so much fun, the trio regrouped and cut an entire album. The result, Now Again, was unanimously received as a triumph. Mojo magazine dubbed them a "country Beatles." Rolling Stone gave it 3 and 1/2 stars. The Washington Post said, "Given the jaw-dropping quality of the disc, three decades almost seems a reasonable wait." Billboard raved, "An event record that lives up to all expectations." Now Again spent 17 weeks at #1 on the Americana charts and 21 weeks on the Billboard Country charts.
It was only a matter of weeks after the band had completed an 80-date U.S. and European tour when they re-entered the studio. "Once you get somebody on stage, it's kind of hard to get 'em off," Hancock says with a laugh. "Once we got a roll going, it felt good to keep working on something."
"We didn't want to go another 30 years before we made a record," Ely says. "After our last date of the tour, we were talking about it on the bus. We said, 'Well, ought to just get together while the band is hot and fresh and record. Not even think about it.' Basically, that's what we did. We didn't plan it or anything. We just sat down and started recording songs that we'd like to hear on tape. That's what this record is."
In March 2003, the Flatlanders and their band - Robbie Gjersoe (guitars, banjo, vocals), Steve Wesson (musical saw), Tony Pearson (vocals), Gary Herman (bass), and Chris Searles (drums) - convened at Joe Ely's Austin studio, with Ely again producing. Guests included steel guitarist (and noted producer) Lloyd Maines, guitarist Mitch Watkins, and accordionist Joel Guzman. The Flatlanders ended up cutting more than 30 songs, 14 of which appear on Wheels of Fortune. Some of the tunes are brand new while others have been kicking around in the individual repertoires of Ely, Gilmore, and Hancock for some time.
Hancock reflects, "We came together as a bunch of friends who happened to be musicians, too. There's just that crazy Lubbock mystery to it. We've all had our focus on the quality of the songs and the music, instead of any kind of 'me first' thing, or any kind of ego trips. It's almost like the old Marx Brothers thing: Three guys get to the door at the same time, and they all say, 'Oh, no, you go first.' 'No, you go first.' 'No, please, please, you go first.'"
Ely adds, "We've always been close, but now I think that we all realize that this is something that is really special. There are very few people who have remained as close as we have, especially in the music world. There are cases out there where brothers won't even talk to each other because they've been in the music business together. We consider this a real precious thing."
"For it to still be as much fun as it was in the beginning, I feel blessed," says Gilmore. "A lot of musicians don't get that luxury."
Copied and pasted from http://newwestrecords.com/theflatlanders.php
Dallas
The Flatlanders Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well Dallas is a jewel, oh yeah, Dallas is a beautiful sight
And Dallas is a jungle but Dallas gives a beautiful light
Did you ever see Dallas from a DC-9 at night?
Well, Dallas is a woman who will walk on you when you're down
But when you are up, she's the kind you want to take around
But Dallas ain't a woman to help you get your feet on the groundAnd Dallas is a woman who will walk on you when you're down
Well, I came into Dallas with the bright lights on my mind,
But I came into Dallas with a dollar and a dime
Well Dallas is a rich man with a death wish in his eyes
A steel and concrete soul with a warm hearted love disguise
A rich man who tends to believe in his own lies
Yeah Dallas is a rich man with a death wish in his eyes
Well, I came into Dallas with the bright lights on my mind,
But I came into Dallas with a dollar and a dime
Did you ever see Dallas from a DC-9 at night?
Well Dallas is a jewel, oh yeah, Dallas is a beautiful sight
And Dallas is a jungle but Dallas gives a beautiful light
Did you ever see Dallas from a DC-9 at night?
The Flatlanders’ song "Dallas" is a reflection on the city of Dallas, Texas from different perspectives. The opening line, “did you ever see Dallas from a DC-9 at night?” suggests a sense of awe and admiration for the city’s dazzling skyline. The lyrics then describe Dallas as both a jungle and a jewel, indicating the city's charm and vibrancy but also its rough and unforgiving nature.
The song also touches on the idea of Dallas as a woman, highlighting the city’s mercurial personality. Dallas is portrayed as a woman who can be both supportive and opportunistic. She will walk all over you when you're down, but if you're up, she's a woman you'll want to take on a joyride. The lyrics also suggest that Dallas can be wealth-driven and can lure you with its opulence, but that doesn't mean there isn't genuine affection underneath the glitzy veneer.
Overall, "Dallas" is a commentary on the complexities and contradictions of the city; the bright lights and opportunities, the harsh realities and the allure of the city. The song's lyrics have proved to be popular, and the song continues to be covered and reinterpreted by various artists while keeping its message relevant.
Line by Line Meaning
Did you ever see Dallas from a DC-9 at night?
Have you ever flown over Dallas at night and seen its beauty?
Well Dallas is a jewel, oh yeah, Dallas is a beautiful sight
Dallas is a city that sparkles and shines, a sight to behold.
And Dallas is a jungle but Dallas gives a beautiful light
Dallas can be a wild and unpredictable place, but it has its own unique beauty.
Well, Dallas is a woman who will walk on you when you're down
Dallas can be unforgiving to those who are struggling and vulnerable.
But when you are up, she's the kind you want to take around
But to those who are successful, Dallas is a place to see and be seen.
But Dallas ain't a woman to help you get your feet on the ground
However, Dallas is not the kind of place that will necessarily help you get back on your feet.
Well, I came into Dallas with the bright lights on my mind,
I came to Dallas with big hopes and dreams on my mind.
But I came into Dallas with a dollar and a dime
But I only had a small amount of money when I arrived.
Well Dallas is a rich man with a death wish in his eyes
Dallas is a place of wealth and power, but with a sense of danger and risk.
A steel and concrete soul with a warm hearted love disguise
Dallas may appear to be cold and hard, but it has a softer side.
A rich man who tends to believe in his own lies
In Dallas, those with money and power may become overconfident and out of touch with reality.
Did you ever see Dallas from a DC-9 at night?
Have you ever flown over Dallas at night and seen its beauty?
Well Dallas is a jewel, oh yeah, Dallas is a beautiful sight
Dallas is a city that sparkles and shines, a sight to behold.
And Dallas is a jungle but Dallas gives a beautiful light
Dallas can be a wild and unpredictable place, but it has its own unique beauty.
Did you ever see Dallas from a DC-9 at night?
Have you ever flown over Dallas at night and seen its beauty?
Lyrics © SHELBY SINGLETON MUSIC INC
Written by: JIMMIE DALE GILMORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jackrobinson6087
I flew out of Dallas in Feb 1968 on a DC9, it was early on the morning.. she was a beautiful city...
@RebelRitchieMusic
10 years ago I was told to listen to these guys and I didn’t like it… but now, as I listen again, I love it. It’s strange how time and age makes our tastes in music change. Jimmies voice is addictive!
@richardkline1832
I've been listening to this song for 30 years. (Not this version of course) it's a great song
@RebelRitchieMusic
@@richardkline1832 agreed!
@mikestuart3103
Jimmie Dale Gilmore is a rad musician. My mind's got a mind of it's own . Great tune
@raystreu5763
Used to pay a buck ('72) to get into the Cotton Club outside of Lubbock to see these guys. Jimmy Dale has literally and physically "Come into my kitchen" and he is a really cool dude, this was post his gig in The Big Lebowski.
@jamesandrews1466
Take it from someone who has lived there on and off for 4 decades..every word is true!
@brewtown45
That guitar player is fire.
@davidcurtis7547
yes . The guy playing the telecaster is a bad ass
@dennisking7872
Robbie Gjersoe