In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
When you're ready or steady
To go dancin', romancin'
Grab your sweetheart and jump in your car
Drive right on down
To the bright side of town
You'll be glad you don't have to drive far
You'll be happy you don't have to go far
Park your pick-ups and Cadillacs, Fords and Renaults
Get out and dance like the dickens to the West Texas waltz
My pickup needs a tune-up,
I better get up and make up
My mind to get on it today
The tractor's been actin' up
And the sewer lines are backin' up
But I'll be dancin' tonight anyway
I'll go dancin' tonight anyway
'Cause I count my blessings, I don't count my faults
I like to dance like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
Well I found a young cow-dog
An' I told him: "Now, now Dooh
"You're a borderline collie, I'm a borderline fool"
But he had some bad habits
He was scared of jack rabbits
I sent him off to canine school
I think they call it obedience school
When he came back, he couldn't tell a cow from a horse
But he could dance like the dickens to the West Texas waltz
Grandmammy, grandpappy
If you wanna stay happy
Better lace up your best dancin' shoes
Come see us, don't write us
You can stop your arthritis
Just by dancin' away your blues
Now, just by dancin' away your blues
So bind up your bunions with band-aids and gauze
And come dance like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
Oh yeah
I met a fine lady banker
And I'd sure like to thank her
For the credit she gave me made me shout
She changed my whole attitude
And to show her a little gratitude
I decided I'd just ask her out
Yeah, I thought I just might ask her out
I said close up your windows, and lock up your vaults
And let's go dance like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
We spent the next to last dollar
At the old ice cream parlor
On a milkshake and a malt and a pop
And then we heard us some sounds
Was a honky-tonk lounge
Next door to the ice cream shop
Next door to the ice cream shop
Now only two things are better than milkshakes and malts
And one is dancin' like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
And the other is somethin'
But really it's nothin'
To speak of, it's somethin' to do
If you've done it before
You'll be doin' it some more
Just as soon as the dancin' is through
Right after the dancin' is through
And if anybody asks you why, just tell 'em because
You been dancin' like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
To go dancin', romancin'
Grab your sweetheart and jump in your car
Drive right on down
To the bright side of town
You'll be glad you don't have to drive far
You'll be happy you don't have to go far
Park your pick-ups and Cadillacs, Fords and Renaults
Get out and dance like the dickens to the West Texas waltz
My pickup needs a tune-up,
I better get up and make up
My mind to get on it today
The tractor's been actin' up
And the sewer lines are backin' up
But I'll be dancin' tonight anyway
I'll go dancin' tonight anyway
'Cause I count my blessings, I don't count my faults
I like to dance like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
Well I found a young cow-dog
An' I told him: "Now, now Dooh
"You're a borderline collie, I'm a borderline fool"
But he had some bad habits
He was scared of jack rabbits
I sent him off to canine school
I think they call it obedience school
When he came back, he couldn't tell a cow from a horse
But he could dance like the dickens to the West Texas waltz
Grandmammy, grandpappy
If you wanna stay happy
Better lace up your best dancin' shoes
Come see us, don't write us
You can stop your arthritis
Just by dancin' away your blues
Now, just by dancin' away your blues
So bind up your bunions with band-aids and gauze
And come dance like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
Oh yeah
I met a fine lady banker
And I'd sure like to thank her
For the credit she gave me made me shout
She changed my whole attitude
And to show her a little gratitude
I decided I'd just ask her out
Yeah, I thought I just might ask her out
I said close up your windows, and lock up your vaults
And let's go dance like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
We spent the next to last dollar
At the old ice cream parlor
On a milkshake and a malt and a pop
And then we heard us some sounds
Was a honky-tonk lounge
Next door to the ice cream shop
Next door to the ice cream shop
Now only two things are better than milkshakes and malts
And one is dancin' like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
And the other is somethin'
But really it's nothin'
To speak of, it's somethin' to do
If you've done it before
You'll be doin' it some more
Just as soon as the dancin' is through
Right after the dancin' is through
And if anybody asks you why, just tell 'em because
You been dancin' like the dickens to the West Texas Waltz
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
West Texas Waltz Lyrics as written by Butch Hancock
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Word Collections Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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