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Choctaw Bingo Lyrics

Strap them kids in, give 'em a lil bit of vodka
In a cherry Coke, we're goin to Oklahoma
To the family reunion for the first time in years
It's up at uncle Slaton's 'cause he's getting on in years
You know he no longer travels but he's still pretty spry
He's not much on talk and he's just too mean to die
And they'll be comin' down from Kansas and West Arkansas
It'll be one great big old party like you've never saw

Uncle Slaton's got his Texan pride
Back in the thickets with his Asian bride
He's got an airstream trailer and a Holstein cow
Still makes whiskey, 'cause he still knows how
He plays that Choctaw Bingo every Friday night
You know he had to leave Texas but he won't say why
He owns a quarter section up by Lake Eufaula
Caught a great big ol' Bluecat on a driftin' jugline
Sells his hardwood timber to the chippin' mill
Cooks that crystal meth because his shine don't sell
He cooks that crystal meth because his 'shine don't sell
You know he likes that money, he don't mind the smell

My cousin Roscoe, Slaton's oldest boy
From his second marriage up in Illinois
He's raised in east St. Louis by his mamma's people
Where they do things different, thought he'd just come on down
He's goin' to Dallas, Texas in a semi truck
Caught from that big McDonald's
You know that one that's built up on that
Great big old bridge across the Will Rogers turnpike
Took the big cabin exit, stopped and bought a carton of cigarettes
At that Indian smoke shop with the big neon smoke rings
In the Cherokee nation, hit Muskogee late that night
Somebody ran the stoplight at the Shawnee Bypass
Roscoe tried to miss 'em but he didn't quite

Bob and Mae come up from
Some little town way down by
Lake Texoma, where he coaches football
They were two-A champions for two years running
But he says they won't be this year
No, they won't be this year
And he stopped off in Tushka at the pop knife and gun place
Bought a SKS rifle and a couple full cases of that steel core ammo
With the Berdan primers from some East bloc nation
That no longer needs 'em
And a Desert Eagle, that's one great big old pistol
I mean, fifty caliber made by bad-ass Hebrews
And some surplus tracers for that old BAR
Of Slaton's as soon as it gets dark, we're gonna have us a time
We're gonna have us a time

Ruth-Anne and Lynn come from Baxter Springs
That's one hell-raisin' town
Way up in Southeastern Kansas
Got a biker bar next to the lingerie store
That's got the Rollin' Stones' lips
Up there in bright pink neon
And they're right downtown where everyone can see 'em
And they burn all night
You know they burn all night
You know they burn all night

Ruth-Anne and Lynn, they wear them cut-off britches
And then skinny little halters and they're second cousins to me
Man, I dont care, I want to get between them
With a great big 'ol hard-on
Like an ol' Bodark fencepost
That you can hang a pipe rail gate from
Do some sister twisters till the cows come home
And we'll be having us a time

Uncle Slaton's got his Texan pride
Back in the thickets with his Asian bride
He's cut that corner pasture into acre lots
He sells 'em owner financed strictly to them
It's got no kind of credit 'cause he knows they're slackers
And they'll miss that payment and then he takes it back
He plays that Choctaw Bingo every Friday night
And drinks his Johnny Walker at that club 69

We're gonna strap them kids in, and give 'em a little bit of Benadryl
In a cherry Coke, we're goin to Oklahoma
Gonna have us a time
Gonna have us a time
9 Meanings

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Cover art for Choctaw Bingo lyrics by James McMurtry

I love this song and it is so Texas/Oklahoma that it hurts. I first heard the Ray Wylie version and after listening to each of them many times I prefer Ray Wylie's as his band's music reflects the content of the song better IMHO. But few can write songs like this and McMurtry is one of the few.

Positive
Subjective
Enjoyment
Texas/Oklahoma
Music
Comparison
Songwriting
Cover art for Choctaw Bingo lyrics by James McMurtry

This is McMurty’s story of a family getting together for a family reunion. He is good with painting a picture with his music and this lengthy song is one of his best.

This is one of my favorite Texas music songs. It is also one of my favorite driving songs for some reason. Thanks James.

Cover art for Choctaw Bingo lyrics by James McMurtry

I also saw this number on the performance of austin city limits on PBS----Good Stuff.

Cover art for Choctaw Bingo lyrics by James McMurtry

Just a badass tune. Just discovered it by accident, like many other songs I've found. One of the best long songs I've heard in a long while.

Cover art for Choctaw Bingo lyrics by James McMurtry

Very much like Dylan. This guy is the most cynical, jaded dude in a long time. I have seen him many times in concert, right at the stage. He is the most serious motherfucker I have ever seen in my life. He plays a badass guitar, has a killer three piece band, and delivers the goods. He just doesn't seem very happy doing it. He seems like a bitter old curmudgeon, but man he is good. Kind of reminds me of Uncle Charlie on My Three Sons. Let's see if he even cracks a slight grin...I know laughing would be too much effort. How exactly does one get so damn bitter?

I heard him interviewed by a newbee DJ on KPIG radio. Man I felt sorry for the DJ. McMurtry answered just about every question with no more than 2 or 3 words. That said, McMurtry is just about my favorite songwriter.

Cover art for Choctaw Bingo lyrics by James McMurtry

Did not realize he wrote this. I thought this was written by Ray Wylie Hubbard. I have much more respect for him knowing he wrote this and "levelland"

Cover art for Choctaw Bingo lyrics by James McMurtry

Here is a link to an excellent performance by McMurtry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qguICtJLTCI

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Cover art for Choctaw Bingo lyrics by James McMurtry

I think there is a whole lot of buried meaning here hidden behind a story of a family reunion. I am sure a lot of it is just my interpretation but I suspect McMurtry had a second meaning in mind concerning just about every line of this one.

Cover art for Choctaw Bingo lyrics by James McMurtry

James McMurtry is the son of Larry McMurtry, who wrote Lonesome Dove (among other classics). No wonder he's such a wonderful storyteller.

 
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