James McMurtry - "Jackie" [Official Audio]

From the new album 'The Horses and the Hounds,' out August 20th (‪@NewWestRecords‬): newwst.com/hors...
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LYRICS:
half a section in the short grass at the foot of the plains
grows broomweed in the dry times, ragweed when it rains
it’s all she’s got left that the lawyers don’t claim
Jackie does her damn best, never one to complain
she’s been green breaking horses when she’s home from the road
waiting on dispatch to find her a load
she leased all but the trap, ponies can’t graze a thing
another bobtail of coastal ought to last them ’til spring
there were pitchers on the tables and kids running ‘round
four generations of a blinking light town
it was the Cotton Eyed Joe or maybe just the right glance
she got to going with Randy at the Friday night dance
(chorus)
I just got two rules, if my conscience be known
don’t lie to me, don’t bring me nothing home
faithful’s a nice word in Sunday school class
life’s just too crazy for that
Randy says not to worry, he’ll feed while she’s gone
she’s got the Freightliner idling half up on his lawn
he don’t like her driving when the northers come blue
but if the horses went hungry Lord knows what she’d do
‘round Christmas up the Caprock you can see all the towns
and the courthouses lit up for ten miles around
it’s a magical time to be traveling the roads
watch the country roll by in the halogens’ glow
(chorus)
she jack knifed on black ice with an oversized load
there’s a white cross in the borrow ditch where she went off the road
she wasn’t going that fast, the responders all say
how it ended that bad, we can wonder all day
© 2021 New West Records

[@RoryLynott]

McMurtry is without question a troubadour, a living legend.

[@danrigano3151]

Rural reality hits hard.The american dream is much like the ebb and flow of the great oceans of the earth!There are times of indescribable beauty and joy.but the reality is mostly hard work and drudgery dictated by our own desires and freedom of choice of those things that we choose in our life punctuated by the random chaos of life and death..Live for today and savor those grand moments in life .dont spend all your time looking in the rear view mirror for tomorow's not guaranteed.James is the ultimate storyteller and musical artist.i was an over the road truck driver through the 80s and the 90s.i have met many of the characters and places he sings of.HE writes and sings the truth.i just wish tne truth didn't seem so stark or maybe i'm just getting to be an old man a privilidge that some are denied by fate or their own choices.His songs always take me back to somewhere or someone.Truly a one of a kind artist.

[@JackAttak]

"Four generations of a blinking light town" - nobody tells a story quite like McMurtry. Chills

[@rebuilders22]

Rarely do songwriters get better after so many years/albums. James just does it with so much ease

[@tomchristopher71]

Horses, trucks, open adult relationships, Americana and everything else in another picturesque James Mcmurtry soon to be classic!

[@kelliesalome1115]

This song is heartbreak

[@casesoutherland4175]

When I saw him in Albuquerque back in September and he played this, I came very close to tearing up. I was in awe. James is the best!!

[@CodyPerryy]

this song deserves millions of views

[@clintonbruning]

All his work is so steeped with meaning. Flows perfectly too.

[@ingridirrgang7417]

Bin begeistert von der CD!! Musik vom Feinsten!!

[@1980tele]

Great tune!!

[@BobbyBrasch]

Holy shit

[@tmendyka]

Indeed.
Very few songwriters these days can even begin to approach his level of songwriting.

[@BobbyBrasch]

He is truly underrated. Should be a house hold name.

[@tmendyka]

No trite phrases.
Superb songwriting.
None of that bullsh×t current 'country music' vibe.
He's more than a songwriter.
He's a storyteller.
An articulate, narrator, with a heart beneath that common voice.
Heard this today, and had it on repeat for probably and hour.
Truly, truly great, heartbreaking song.

[@BobbyBrasch]

Every song on the album is like a short novel. Really special album

[@toddburroughs2535]

Great job, James! Anyone know the chord pattern?

[@davidkrause6990]

Key of D. D, A, G should get you started.

[@davidkrause6990]

Then Bm, D, A, G.