Imagined Geography 4: Texas Song

Texas is its own religion

Texas is the belle of the ball

Everyone is born in Texas

Texas can bear it all

Everything is big in Texas

Texas is a thousand miles tall

Everyone is born in Texas

Texas can bear it all

Texas is as big as all Texas [[ x times ]]

They cross the big river,

listening to Jesus,

but finding the devil

in a counterfeit star.

Everyone is welcome in Texas

Texas doesn't need a wall

Everyone is born in Texas

Texas can bear it all

Texas is as big as all Texas [[ x times ]]

They cross the big river,

listening to Jesus,

but finding the devil

in a counterfeit star.

Texas is as big as all Texas [[ x times ]]

little demon

[[ this could be a lullaby or a washing song or an exorcism ]]

little demon

in my child

get you gone and 

leave him mild

you must go and

he must stay

let him let go 

of today

little demon

stomp the floor

little demon

slam the door

little demon

fill his lungs

little demon

speak in tongues

little demon

foul the bed

little demon

wake the dead

little demon

in my child

get you gone and 

leave him mild

you must go and

he must stay

let him let go 

of today

Devil in the Detail

[[ A blues song about the actualities of figuratively selling your soul. The devil is an empty belly. ]]

There was a man selling whisky.

There was a man selling cigarettes.

There was a man selling fast cars.

There was a man handing out regrets, handing out regrets.

And what did I have?

I had these fingers.

I had this voice.

I had this guitar.

I had no choice.

There was a girl from across the roadway.

There was a woman in a dark saloon.

There was a woman consumed my heart

Under the moon, under the moon, under the moon.

And what did I have?

I had these fingers.

I had this voice.

I had this guitar.

I had no choice.

The devil is an empty belly.

The devil is sleeping on the floor.

The devil is working enough to get by.

The devil is being poor.

And what did I have?

I had these fingers.

I had this voice.

I had this guitar.

I had no choice.

There's a devil at the crossroads,
at every intersection,

when you leave home forever behind.

And if you find a Jesus,
if you ever find a Jesus,

you will find him in your bread and wine.

cloverleaf blues

When the devil comes to meet you,

you will walk the edge of the road,

When the devil comes to meet you,

you will walk the edge of the road,

Walk backwards with your thumb out,

look forward to laying down your load.

When the devil comes to meet you,

you'll be walking away from grief,

When the devil comes to meet you,

you'll be walking away from grief,

He won't meet you at the crossroads;

you'll be lost on the clover leaf.

When you go to meet the devil,

you will both be half way home,

When you go to meet the devil,

you will both be half way home,

When he opens the door of his automobile,

keep your eye on the chrome.

[[

cloverleaf as opposed to the crossroads, of course -- this is modernized and more confusing, and the cross has been twisted

the devil drives a Hupmobile

the chrome is gaud and distraction and wealth and a mirror -- watch yourself.

]]