Texas Essentials: Songs

“Campfire-Cowboys,” copyright © 1970 by John Hampton

“Beautiful, beautiful Texas. . . . The most beautiful place that I know.”

W. Lee O’Daniel, “Beautiful Texas”

In April 2004 Texas Monthly published, “The 100 Best Texas Songs.” Jeff McCord and John Morthland, who compiled the list, selected songs “performed by a Texas artist,” natives (even if they had left the state) and non-natives who “have spent a good part of their career inside the state lines, and their songs had to be a product of their time here or related in some way to the state.” What was not part of their criteria were “songs . . . about Texas.”

In keeping with a series of Texas Essentials I started a few years back, offering a baker’s dozen of Lone Star books and movies necessary for every true Texan to read or see, once again I come with a baker’s dozen of essential songs having to do with Texas. Unlike Texas Monthly’s criteria, I’m not much interested in whether the songwriter or singer is a native of Texas or has spent significant time within our borders—though I can’t image some of these songs not coming from someone intimate with Texas. What interests me, in this list, is picking the top thirteen song that are Texcentric—that is, each one is about Texas, extolling the uniqueness that is the Lone Star state.

I’m mindful of the foolishness in selecting thirteen songs that represent the vastness of Texas. It’s about as smart as a sack of rocks, but I’m doing it anyway. I’m also mindful that some very good songs aren’t going to make the list and that some of y’all are going to get your noses bent out of shape. Sorry about that, but it can’t be helped.

Like those earlier lists, this one isn’t presented in as a “Top Ten List,” beginning with number ten and ending with number one. Rather, like other lists, I offer these thirteen songs according to release date, including the name(s) of the songwriter(s) and the artists most recognizable with each song (though you may fancy other versions). One last thing before we get started: I didn’t include the official state song, William J. Marsh’s 1924 “Texas, Our Texas.” That one’s free of charge.

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“Beautiful Texas” (1933), written by W. Lee O’Daniel and performed by Willie Nelson

“Miles and Miles of Texas” (1976), written by Diane Johnston and Tom Canfield; performed by Asleep at the Wheel

“Texas (When I Die)” (1978), written by Bobby Borchers, Ed Bruce, and Patsy Bruce; performed by Tanya Tucker

“What I Like About Texas” (1984), written and performed by Gary P. Nunn

“No Place But Texas” (1986), written by Alex Harvey and performed by Willie Nelson

“I Like Texas” (1995), written and performed by Pat Green

“Goin’ Back to Texas” (1998), written and performed by Don Edwards

“I’ll Take Texas” (1998), written by Clint Black and Hayden Nicholas; performed by Clint Black

“Texas Pride" (2001), written and performed by Miranda Lambert

“Texas” (2005), written by Steven Dale Jones and Phillip White; performed by George Strait

“My Texas” (2011), written by Josh Abbott and Thom Shepherd; performed by Josh Abbott Band (featuring Pat Green)

“Take Me to Texas” (2015), written by Brandy Lynn Clark and Shane L. McAnally; performed by George Strait

“West Texas is the Best Texas” (2022), written and performed by Josh Abbott, John Baumann, Cleto Cordero, and William Clark Green—The Panhandlers