Texas in the Rearview (Virginia on my Mind)

tempie

Get Flash to see this player.

Description

I've been wanting to do an ode to Virginia for a while but haven't had the right context...until Thanksgiving, when we took our annual visit to Texas to see my wife's family. I love Texas, but all I could think about this year was getting back home. Virginia doesn't have many boosters these days, but it's a damn fine state. Best horse country on the east coast, mountains, ocean, tiny towns and big towns, and firmly in Dixie. So I thought hey maybe this is the story for my Virginia song, being away and wanting to come home. And when I think Texas and traveling, I think Asleep at the Wheel and Blue Mountain and Little Feat and bands like that so this tune is informed by that stuff musically. This is my last tune of the year, so merry christmas and happy new year. See you on the other side of 2009.

Leave a Comment

You must be registered and logged-in to comment.

Lyrics

2 days on i-40
trading off to sleep
stopping every now and then
for gas and a bite to eat
thinking about family
we aint seen in quite a while
dogs and kids and old folks
lining up to ease the miles
seems like a long ways off now
that rushing down the road
the blue ridge haunts the plains tonight
like the ghost of the buffalo
i miss my Shenandoah
i miss my mountain home
i'm putting Texas in the rearview
yeah its past the time to go

canyon and canadian
pampa and muleshoe
lubbock shamrock hereford
paducah and idalou
oklahoma city, muskogee, little rock
memphis, nashville, knoxville, bristol
honey don't let's stop
get that cell phone out your purse
and call the kennel up
tell then that we'll be by shortly
to throw the dogs in the back of the truck
we're gonna be a family
when we roll to the door
Texas in the rearview
virginia home once more

Song Stats

Hits: 1540
Comments: 39
Fans: 22
Plays: 141
Downloads: 71
Votes: 1
Uploaded: Dec 17, 2009 - 11:52:56 AM
Last Updated: Dec 17, 2009 - 11:52:56 AM Last Played: Jun 17, 2013 - 08:33:06 AM

Song License

Creative Commons License:
Attribution-NoDerivs-NonCommercial

Song Actions

Keywords:

texas (8), virginia (6), road trip (6), i-40 (1), dogs (18), trucks (5), home (71)

Hardware:

delta king, ovation acoustic, epiphone mando, kids percussion stuff

Software:

GB08

Comments

michaelkoppenheffer	michaelkoppenheffer said 1280 days ago (December 17th, 2009)
	As someone with TX and VA connections as well, I can identify with your perspective! Great chorus--I'll have it in my mind when I make my own TX pilgrimage in the next few months. The second verse put me in mind of Bob Wills' "Take Me Back to Tulsa." Cool stop-start percussion too. I like all those handclaps. Check out my latest song called Till the Tap Runs Dry (album version)

tempie

tempie said 1280 days ago (December 17th, 2009)

Take me Back to Tulsa
I was going to mention the Bob Wills influence but i didn't know if anybody would relate to it. but hey you called me out right off. i love bob wills and if i could play fiddle i'd have played it on this. there's a great southern lit/culture magazine called the Oxford American and every year they put out a killer CD of bargain bin southern rock/soul/r&b/country. Those handclaps were inspired by an old motown tune on that CD.

Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

Feter	Feter said 1280 days ago (December 17th, 2009)
	Texas in the Rearview Hey ! ..this is cool really cool song ...I much loved the vocal here .the whole mando acoustics and the electric guitars sound fabulous ...little feet is right ..rock on ...thnx alot for sharin !!!! Check out my latest song called Roll with it

tempie	tempie said 1280 days ago (December 17th, 2009)
	dixie chicken yeah man you have to love little feat. i was playing with harmonics on the chorus - harmonics on left and regular old noodling on right - and i think it came out pretty good. glad you liked the mando and acoustic in the mix, i'm still learning where/when to use the mandolin. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

magnatone	magnatone said 1280 days ago (December 17th, 2009)
	Texas Craig, this is exceptional! you just really did a fine job of expressing that feeling of "back home" - this is really really good work! thanks - and happy holidays! Check out my latest song called Wave Goodbye

tempie	tempie said 1280 days ago (December 17th, 2009)
	back home that old saw about arriving home being the best part of leaving is true. especially around the holidays. plus, i missed my horse lol. glad you liked it and happy holidays to you too! Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

bud	bud said 1280 days ago (December 17th, 2009)
	What a great sound - so out there like The Wild Tchoupitoulas with Steve Earle and Frank Zappa. Damn this is good stuff. Well done! Check out my latest song called fig field

tempie

tempie said 1279 days ago (December 19th, 2009)

out there
man thanks for introducing me to the wild tchoupitooulas. that's some cool stuff. i'm going to put some of that on the ipod and chew on it a while. steve earle's probably in this tune, zappa too. i like the way this builds on the sound of the quick hearted boy tune. psychobilly indie country. or something. i'm going to head in this direction a while. always glad when you like a song.

Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

racerat	racerat said 1280 days ago (December 18th, 2009)
	Creedence Has shades of The Clearwater Revival in the southern strumminess of it. But also quirky and weird in a atonal art-y kind of flailing way. Then the bridge comes in and it's almost Devo-esque in a south of the Mason/Dixon kinda way. Cool, and very engaging tempie, Thx! P Check out my latest song called My Broken Sky

tempie	tempie said 1279 days ago (December 19th, 2009)
	atonal arty kind of flailing if i had a nickel for everytime i've heard that... thanks for the close listen man, great comment and i'm glad you liked it. i like the devo observation, i would never have put that together but you're right, it does sound like devo. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

five_extra_arms

five_extra_arms said 1279 days ago (December 18th, 2009)

Gimme Three Steps
Your urgency to get back to Virginia is felt from the first note. It has that 'driving fast, we're not stopping to pee' tempo that truly shows your love for Virginia. It's in fact, a love song. Replace all the city names with girl names and it's a song about coming home to your wife that you adore.

You just wrote the Sweet Home Alabama for your state! I wouldn't be surprised if the High Schools start clapping and stomping this out (We Will Rock You style) at football games.

Love it man.

Check out my latest song called She Was Nowhere

tempie	tempie said 1279 days ago (December 19th, 2009)
	sweet home alabama for your state hearing this song played over a crappy PA system at a high school football game would be a tempie red rocks. and you're right, it is a love song. glad you like it dude, especially since i snuck it past you - no 'inspected by 5x' on the waistband. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

dave_b	dave_b said 1279 days ago (December 18th, 2009)
	Texas in the Rearview (Virginia on my Mind) I enjoyed the imagery in the lyrics (the blue ridge haunts the plains tonight like the ghost of the buffalo). The quirky percussion gives the song a unique flavor. I can definitely hear the Little Feat influence Check out my latest song called Llarions Blues

tempie	tempie said 1279 days ago (December 19th, 2009)
	quirky thanks for the listen and glad you liked the buffalo lyric. i was reading larry mcmurtry before the trip and i kept thinking about the comanches and buffalo out behind the truck stops and strip clubs. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

lavalamp	lavalamp said 1279 days ago (December 18th, 2009)
	Amarillo Blues The only Texan town I have ever been to. Drove across the US once. Excellent offering to the MJ gods. This one should satisfy their appetite. LL Check out my latest song called A Funky Little Thing

tempie	tempie said 1279 days ago (December 19th, 2009)
	everybody should drive across the country on i-40/route 66 once in their lifetime. it should be required driving for every citizen. you don't understand just how strange this place is until you do that. and beautiful. but really strange. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

davisamerica	davisamerica said 1279 days ago (December 18th, 2009)
	you were in Texas??? .... we have phones ...ahemm... love this and virginia is a fine state indeed Check out my latest song called 12

tempie

tempie said 1279 days ago (December 19th, 2009)

phones in texas? really?
man texas is a big state. my buddy in brownsville is always on me to stop by when we're in town but "town" is like 15 hours from brownsville. nothing i'd like better though than to hang with a fellow MJr for a while. maybe your a panhandler. i'll send you a note before we're in the area next time. we also get down to fort worth on occasion, that might be closer to you. my new year's resolution is to meet at least one MJr in person.

Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

Relic67	Relic67 said 1279 days ago (December 18th, 2009)
	tulsa time stupendous!! all the hallmarks of a Tempie classic which have been enumerated so many times I won't repeat them here. downloaded for many future listens! just be careful how you present this one to the inlaws m'kay? Check out my latest song called Someone Else's Thing

tempie

tempie said 1279 days ago (December 19th, 2009)

tulsa time
if you're going to rip off a lyric, always do it from don williams. that's my rule. or haggard. nobody has commented on one of my favorite parts of the tune, that little delayed muted note taking the song out a la early johnny cash. i was thinking one piece at a time or i've been everywhere. i thought you'd pick it up! always glad when you like a tune, and its always a good cheap thrill to know you're walking around listening to it on the ipod. thanks dude!

Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

kingbee	kingbee said 1279 days ago (December 19th, 2009)
	Lone star It almost like you've taken the influences and turned them on their side and made it all skwewiff..and it's great. The mix is really inventive and original. I've never been to Texas or the states but you conjure up some great images cheers Check out my latest song called shadow stories

tempie

tempie said 1279 days ago (December 19th, 2009)

making it skewiff
hey man glad you liked the mix. i'm really working on finding a mix that fits the style. i was happy with the mix on the chorus on this one, especially the guitar. sometimes i've got six or seven guitar tracks and trying to find them all seperate space is a trial. texas is one of those places that it's almost better to have just heard about and imagined. some of it is really like the myth - there are still some huge ranches like king ranch and 4 sixes but most of it these days is just like anywhere else. i'm one of those people that in all things generally prefers the imagination.

Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

ktb	ktb said 1278 days ago (December 19th, 2009)
	ode to Virginia your own signature sound Craig and its a delight. I definitely hear the little feat as well a slew of other cool influences. A road tune. I can see the imagery flash by as I listen to this. Check out my latest song called Blackwater (by Tokai)

tempie	tempie said 1277 days ago (December 20th, 2009)
	virginia slew hey man glad it sparked your imagination and happy you liked it. thanks for the listen!! Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

Vic Holman	Vic Holman said 1278 days ago (December 19th, 2009)
	road trip nice story, the family on the road, we've seen those in the movies. usually a disaster insues. great southern rock feel here as well. Check out my latest song called They Must

tempie	tempie said 1277 days ago (December 20th, 2009)
	thanks vic we used to make a game of seeing how far we could get in one day. we'd start out great guns but then lose steam around evening. i think the farthest we made it before stopping was little rock. btw, don't ever eat at the kentucky fried chicken buffet/truck stop in little rock. just saying. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

Lennon714

Lennon714 said 1278 days ago (December 19th, 2009)

Super Cool
I'm so glad that Vampire Weekend and Merle Haggard are working together again. Brilliant guitar work. Also a good example of your phrases. "Don't Let's Stop" makes a cool appearance.You really captured the homecoming feeling here. I give Phoenix a hard time, but after a long road trip it's nice to roll in and see a saguaro and that familiar brown cloud. Virginia is for lovers.

Check out my latest song called The Robots of Coconino County

tempie	tempie said 1277 days ago (December 20th, 2009)
	superintendent of cool that's one thing we have in common with texas, an annoying catch phrase. don't mess with virginia. texas is for lovers. vampire weekend and merle - LOL you're a witty dude. now i'm headed over to see what you've got to add to the mexican girl conversation. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

hackneybloke	hackneybloke said 1278 days ago (December 20th, 2009)
	texas this is excellent. very clever lyrics. everything is produced perfectly. i would have like it to have taken a left turn somewhere maybe with some running bass or something. great though. Check out my latest song called Every People Know w/Rok41, KTB, Scofugate & Sisters

tempie	tempie said 1277 days ago (December 20th, 2009)
	left turn you're right, some running bass would be cool. so would a fiddle. i thought about sending this relic's direction for some strings but i was too impatient. maybe a remix.. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

davidmurphy1899	davidmurphy1899 said 1276 days ago (December 21st, 2009)
	greetings to tempie this is the wild spirit of liquid music from the heart of every someone to the heart that is the home of every alive one out here.greatness on the edge.where it is pouring down the lanes and path around my town david Check out my latest song called understand

tempie	tempie said 1276 days ago (December 22nd, 2009)
	greetings dude you are the faulkner of Ireland. awesome comment. now i'm heading out to check into heart is gold, can't wait. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

VicDiesel	VicDiesel said 1275 days ago (December 22nd, 2009)
	Texas is a great place But if you're heading elsewhere it takes forever to get through it. "The sun is rise, the sun is set, and here we is, in Texas yet". Good road song. Enjoyed. Check out my latest song called Fourth Candle

five_extra_arms

five_extra_arms said 1275 days ago (December 22nd, 2009)

New Plans For Texas
Despite it's ability to inspire songs about leaving it, Texas has many other useful purposes.

Why not use it as a parking lot for the rest of the United States and have shuttles going back and forth from your car to your state?

We wouldn't have to pave it?

Just saying.....

Oh yeah, I keep meaning to ask you - Do you have to put your shoes ON when you come into your house (since you have a dirt floor and you walk around barefoot when you're outside)?

There's always time for racism during the holidays!!

(That'll teach him to slide a tune past me without my nod of approval)

Check out my latest song called She Was Nowhere

tempie	tempie said 1275 days ago (December 22nd, 2009)
	who are these people that can afford shoes AND internet service? must be nice. Check out my latest song called Fan Fiction (Stan Lee Writes Reed Richards)

lengold	lengold said 1275 days ago (December 22nd, 2009)
	Fantastic melodies as always - supremely catchy song. Love the infectious arrangement too - fits beautifully. Cheers Len Check out my latest song called B E A U T I F U L

egobandit	egobandit said 1273 days ago (December 24th, 2009)
	There are so many Very cool use of sonics on this, Your arrangement is outstanding, the hand clapping had me smiling ! downloaded no question! Check out my latest song called piece it together

egobandit	egobandit said 1273 days ago (December 24th, 2009)
	There are so many Very cool use of sonics on this, Your arrangement is outstanding, the hand clapping had me smiling ! downloaded no question! Check out my latest song called piece it together

Bob6stringer

Bob6stringer said 1272 days ago (December 25th, 2009)

GLEEFUL electro-neck music!
Dang fine ol-boy delivery, ol dawg. Shenandoah Valley's damn pretty. But more interesting than the expected musical line, you've done some really cool electro-funky stuff, particuarly that mando in the left--it's just... gleeful! Genre: Electro-redneck?! More rolling than my current East-TN clime. I love your litany of locales... a sort of nod to The Man in Black's "I've been Everywhere," although it's in a whole different vein.

Check out my latest song called Call Me (Turn to Me Reprise)

Fan List

Artist Info

Name: Craig Thomas
Location: Up there in the Blue Ridge VA United States

Tempie is the 00's equivalent of an 80's Tascam four track project, started by Craig Thomas in 2002. For-fun D.I.Y. pop influenced by 60's Teen Scene, 70's AM country, and 80's pop. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Tempie-Sound/10786... [see more]

Check out some of my other songs:

Genre Info

More songs in Pop (Alternative):

Chat