4:37 minutes
GONE TO TEXAS
In 1830, William Dewees wrote to a friend, “It would amuse you very much could you hear the manner in which people in this new country (Texas) address each other. It is nothing uncommon for us to inquire of a man why he ran away from the States! But few persons feel insulted by such a question. They generally answer for some crime or other which they have committed; if they deny having committed any crime, and say they did not run away, they are generally looked upon rather suspiciously.”
When Southerners began leaving their homes, many would simply scrawl “GTT” with chalk on their cabin doors or fence posts — for “Gone To Texas.” In time, GTT became shorthand for “at outs with the law.” Frederick Law Olmsted wrote that residents of other states “appended the initials to the name of every rascal who skipped out.” In 1884 Thomas Hughes observed, “When we want to say that it is all up with some fellow, we just say, ‘G.T.T.’ as you’d say, ‘gone to the devil,’ or ‘gone to the dogs.’ ”
“Gone to Texas” lyrics and vocalization by Steve Teare.
Introductory guitar solo: Edie Van Halen from “Beat It” by Michael Jackson slowed to 136 beats per minutes.
Intro drums “Crazy Hard Rock Metal” drum track excerpt.
Story voice: “The Gunslinger” by Stephen King
ZZTop sound alike: “Texas Techno” by Audionautix
Outro music: “Skinny Leonard” by Audionautix
Illustrations and interpretations by many artists of “The Gunslinger”
GONE TO TEXAS
Over yonder Skinny Elijah
should oughta heard him play
rockin’ in the tool house
Hurricane Cowboy
y’all Gone to Texas
playin’ like there’s no tomorrow
solid rhythm so fine
y’all Gone to Texas
Behind the wranglin’ rocker
plumb pushin’ upbeat
reckless riff rockin’
Gone to Texas
playin’ like there’s no tomorrow
fixin’ to be a legend
might could change the world
Hear what I say
Gone to Texas
Gone to Texas
playin’ like there’s no tomorrow
Gone to Texas
Gone to Texas
over yonder Skinny Elijah
should oughta heard him play
rockin’ in the tool house
Hurricane Cowboy
playin’ like there’s no tomorrow
Y’all Gone to Texas
Y’all Gone to Texas
Y’all Gone to Texas
playin’ like there’s no tomorrow
