50 Years of Asleep at the Wheel: A Retrospective

-This program was funded in part by... ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Lights click ] -Howdy, everybody.

Ray Benson of Asleep at the Wheel here.

You know, 45 years ago on this very stage at Studio 6A in Austin, Texas, our band appeared on the very first episode of a newly formed show highlighting the Austin music scene called "Austin City Limits."

There wasn't the famous skyline yet, and there were rows of people seated behind the stage.

I remember noticing they all looked like us.

It was the beginning of what they would call the cosmic cowboy or outlaw music scene here in Austin, where hippies and cowboys came together for some really amazing music.

So as we celebrate Asleep at the Wheel's 50th anniversary, we thought it was appropriate to take a look back.

Besides the ever-changing cast of characters that make up Asleep at the Wheel, we have been joined by legendary performers, from Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, and Johnny Gimble, to newer acts, like The Avett Brothers.

Let's get it started with a performance from 1976 from the very first episode of "Austin City Limits."

♪♪ -Now "ACL" celebrates 50 years of Western swing legends Asleep at the Wheel.

♪♪ -♪ Johnny Walker sat at a table in a bar ♪ ♪ Minding his own affairs ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Drinking his namesake over the rocks ♪ ♪ He was drunk, too drunk to care ♪ -Right!

-♪ When a girl in the bar ♪ ♪ Walked up beside him ♪ ♪ And this is what she said ♪ ♪ She said, a woman came by with a letter for you ♪ ♪ And this is what the letter said ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Dear, John ♪ -♪ Please, Johnny, please come home ♪ ♪ I need your love, and the kids ♪ ♪ They gotta be fed ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And, John ♪ ♪ If you don't hurry back, I'll be gone ♪ ♪ Yes, that's what the letter said ♪ ♪♪ -♪ The letter that Johnny Walker read ♪ -Aw, yeah!

♪♪ Yeah!

♪♪ ♪ Then John, he got up from the table ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Slowly, he walked outside ♪ ♪♪ ♪ He was thinking of his wife ♪ ♪ And little children at home ♪ ♪ And how his drinking ♪ ♪ Had ruined their lives ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Why, then John, he stared off into that floodlight ♪ -Whoo!

♪ And a vision filled his poor, poor heart with dread ♪ ♪♪ ♪ For you know, it was him lying drunk in that gutter ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Clutching in his hand ♪ ♪ The letter that Johnny Walker read ♪ ♪ And this is what it said ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Dear, John ♪ -♪ Please, Johnny, please come home ♪ ♪ Oh, I need your love, and the kids ♪ They gotta be fed ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And, John ♪ ♪ If you don't hurry back, I'll be gone ♪ ♪ Yes, that's what the letter said ♪ ♪♪ -♪ The letter that Johnny Walker read ♪ Let's go!

♪♪ -♪ Dear, John ♪ -♪ Please, Johnny, please come home ♪ ♪ I need your love, and the kids ♪ They gotta be fed ♪ ♪ Oh, and, John ♪ ♪ If you don't hurry back, I'll be gone ♪ ♪ Yes, that's what the letter said ♪ ♪♪ -♪ The letter that Johnny Walker read ♪ -♪ Yes, that's what the letter said ♪ ♪♪ -♪ The letter that Johnny Walker read ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Yes, that's what the letter said ♪ ♪♪ -♪ The letter that Johnny Walker read ♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] [ Up-tempo music playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ One night Farmer Brown was takin' the air ♪ ♪ Locked up the barnyard with the greatest of care ♪ ♪ And to the hen house something stirred ♪ ♪ When he hollered, "Who's there?"

♪ ♪ This is what he heard ♪ ♪ There ain't nobody here but us chickens ♪ ♪ There ain't nobody here at all ♪ ♪ So calm yourself, stop that fuss ♪ ♪ There ain't nobody here but us ♪ ♪ Hey, kindly point that gun the other way ♪ ♪ And hobble, hobble, hobble off and hit the hay ♪ ♪ 'Cause there ain't nobody here but us roosters ♪ ♪ Ain't nobody here at all ♪ ♪ You's stompin' around and causin' a fuss ♪ ♪ And kicking up an awful dust ♪ ♪ We chickens tryin' to sleep and you butt in ♪ ♪ And hobble, hobble, hobble, hobble, it's a sin ♪ ♪ Tomorrow is a busy day ♪ ♪ We got things to do, we got eggs to lay ♪ ♪ We got ground to dig and worms to scratch ♪ ♪ It takes a lot of settin', gettin' chicks to hatch ♪ ♪ 'Cause here ain't nobody here but us chickens ♪ ♪ Ain't nobody here at all ♪ ♪ So calm yourself, stop that fuss ♪ ♪ There ain't nobody here but us ♪ ♪ Hey, kindly point that gun the opposite way ♪ ♪ And hobble, hobble, hobble off and hit the hay ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ [ Saxophone solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Second sax playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Guitars enter ] ♪♪ -Yeah!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Tomorrow is a busy day ♪ ♪ We got things to do, we got eggs to lay ♪ ♪ We got ground to dig and worms to scratch ♪ ♪ It takes a lot of settin', gettin' chicks to hatch ♪ ♪ 'Cause here ain't nobody here but us chickens ♪ ♪ Ain't nobody here at all ♪ ♪ So calm yourself, stop that fuss ♪ ♪ There ain't nobody here but us ♪ ♪ And kindly point that gun the other way ♪ ♪ And hobble, hobble, hobble off and hit the hay ♪ ♪ Hey, hey, boss man, what'd you say?

♪ ♪ Its easy pickin' ♪ ♪ Ain't nobody here but us chickens ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah ♪ [ Cheering ] [ Song ends ] -Let's boogie-woogie down Route 66.

[ Honky-tonk piano playing ] [ Band enters ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ If you ever plan to motor west ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Take my way, the highway that's the best ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Get your kicks on Route 66 ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Well, it winds from Chicago to L.A. ♪ ♪♪ ♪ More than 2,000 miles along the way ♪ ♪ Get your kicks out on Route 66 ♪ ♪♪ -♪ Winds to St. Louie, Joplin, Missouri ♪ -♪ Oklahoma City looks mighty pretty ♪ ♪ You'll see Amarillo, Albuquerque ♪ ♪ And Gallup, New Mexico ♪ ♪ Flagstaff, Arizona Don't forget Winona ♪ -♪ Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino ♪ -♪ Would you get hip to this kindly tip ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When you make that California trip ♪ -♪ Get your kicks on Route 66 ♪ I think, Michael, we'll go with saxophone, yeah!

[ Saxophone solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Honky-tonk piano playing ] [ Cheering ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Winds to St. Louie ♪ ♪ Joplin, Missouri ♪ -♪ Oklahoma City, it sure looks pretty ♪ -♪ You'll see Amarillo ♪ ♪ Albuquerque, New Mexico ♪ -♪ Yes, yeah ♪ -♪ Flagstaff, Arizona ♪ -♪ Don't forget Winona ♪ -♪ Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino ♪ -♪ Won't you ♪ -♪ Won't you ♪ -♪ Get hip to this kindly tip ♪ ♪♪ -♪ When you take ♪ -♪ When you take ♪ -♪ That California trip ♪ -Tell me about it.

-♪ You'll get your kicks on Route 66 ♪ ♪♪ -♪ You can cop a few licks driving down Route 66 ♪ -♪ And you'll be feelin' real fine ♪ ♪ Out on Route 66 ♪ -♪ Get your kicks on Route 66 ♪ [ Song ends ] [ Steel-pedal guitars playing ] [ Up-tempo music playing ] ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Roly Poly ♪ ♪ Eatin' corn and taters ♪ ♪ Hungry every minute of the day ♪ ♪ Roly Poly gnawin' on the biscuit ♪ ♪ As long as he can chew it, it's okay ♪ -♪ Well, he can eat an apple pie ♪ ♪ And never even bat an eye ♪ ♪ He likes everything from a soup to hay ♪ -♪ Roly Poly, Daddy's little fatty ♪ ♪ I'll bet he's gonna be a man someday ♪ [ Guitar solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Applause ] ♪♪ -♪ Roly Poly ♪ ♪ Scrambled eggs for breakfast ♪ ♪ Bread and jelly twenty times a day ♪ ♪ Oh, Roly Poly ♪ ♪ Plays ol' hardy dinner ♪ ♪ It takes lots of strength to run and play ♪ Tell me about it.

-♪ Well, he bowls up weeds and he does the chores ♪ ♪ And he runs both ways to all the stores ♪ ♪ He works up an appetite that way, hey ♪ -♪ Roly Poly, Daddy's little fatty ♪ ♪ I'll bet he's gonna be a man someday ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] -Hey!

[ Jazzy country music playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, I woke up this morning ♪ ♪ Looking for my shoes ♪ ♪ Looked behind the trunk, found the hesitation blues ♪ ♪ Lordy, tell me how long ♪ -♪ Lordy, tell me how long ♪ -♪ Will I have to wait?

♪ -♪ Will I have to wait?

♪ -♪ Can I get to you now?

♪ -♪ Can I get to you now?

♪ -♪ Must I hesitate?

♪ ♪♪ [ Piano solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, I'm going to the river, take a rocking chair ♪ ♪ If blues overtake me, rock away from here ♪ ♪ Lordy, tell me how long ♪ -♪ Lordy, tell me how long ♪ -♪ Will I have to wait?

♪ -♪ Will I have to wait?

♪ -♪ Can I get to you now?

♪ -♪ Can I get to you now?

♪ -♪ Must I hesitate?

♪ ♪♪ [ Guitar solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Fiddle enters ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Went up on a mountain, peeped through a hole ♪ ♪ Saw your little monkey doing the jelly roll ♪ ♪ Lordy, tell me how long ♪ -♪ Lordy, tell me how long ♪ -♪ Will I have to wait?

♪ -♪ Will I have to wait?

♪ -♪ Can I get to you now?

♪ -♪ Can I get to you now?

♪ -♪ Must I hesitate?

♪ ♪♪ [ Horn solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, I'm going to the river, gonna sit right down ♪ ♪ If the blues overtake me, I'll jump in and drown ♪ ♪ Lordy, tell me how long ♪ -♪ Lordy, tell me how long ♪ -♪ Do I have to wait?

♪ -♪ Will I have to wait?

♪ -♪ Can I get to you now?

♪ -♪ Can I get to you now?

♪ -♪ Must I hesitate?

♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Mellow country playing ] -♪ I moved your pictures ♪ ♪ From my walls ♪ ♪ And I replaced them ♪ ♪ Both large and small ♪ ♪ And each new day ♪ ♪ Finds me so blue ♪ ♪ Because nothin' ♪ ♪ Takes the place of you ♪ ♪ I read your letters ♪ ♪ One by one ♪ ♪ And I still love you ♪ ♪ When it's all said and done ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And oh, my darlin' ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm so blue ♪ ♪ Because nothin' ♪ ♪ Oh, but nothin' ♪ ♪ Takes the place of you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I ♪ ♪ I write this letter ♪ ♪ Oh, it's rainin' ♪ ♪ On my windowpane ♪ ♪ I ♪ ♪ I feel the need of you ♪ ♪ Because without you ♪ ♪ Lord, without you, nothin' seems the same ♪ ♪ So I'll wait ♪ ♪ Until you're home ♪ ♪ Oh, I love you ♪ ♪ Yeah, but you know I'm all alone ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And, oh, my darling ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm so blue ♪ ♪ Because nothin' ♪ ♪ Oh, but nothin' ♪ ♪ Takes the place of you ♪ ♪ Oh, nothin' ♪ ♪ Oh, but nothin' ♪ ♪ Takes the place of you ♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] [ Country music playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ If you've ever seen that ole Mississippi ♪ ♪ The queen of the delta land ♪ ♪ Then you'll understand ♪ -♪ Why I've got the blues for Dixie ♪ -♪ If you've ever been to Tennessee when ♪ ♪ Those old cotton fields are white ♪ ♪ In pale moonlight ♪ -♪ Then you've had the blues for Dixie ♪ -♪ If you've seen the glamour of that Alabama ♪ ♪ Moon shinin' in the sky ♪ -♪ If you've got a baby down in Birmingham maybe ♪ ♪ You know the reason why ♪ -♪ That I'm gonna be blue ♪ ♪ Till I'm on that old choo-choo ♪ ♪ Headin' down South again ♪ -♪ There goes that train ♪ ♪ That's leavin' me blue for Dixie ♪ -Ah!

[ Fiddle solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Guitar solo playing ] ♪ Oh, right on ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now if you've seen the glamour ♪ ♪ Of that Alabamer ♪ ♪ Moon shining in the sky ♪ -♪ If you've got a baby in Birmingham maybe ♪ ♪ You know the reason why ♪ -♪ That I'm gonna be blue ♪ ♪ Till I'm on that old choo-choo ♪ ♪ Headed back to Austin again ♪ [ Cheering ] -♪ There goes that train ♪ ♪ That's leavin' me blue for Dixie ♪ -Oh, yeah!

-♪ Miss Dixie, take me back to Texas ♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Lyle!

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Intro plays ] -♪ Let me go home, whiskey ♪ ♪ Let me walk out that door ♪ ♪ Let me go home, whiskey ♪ ♪ Let me walk out that door ♪ ♪ I got orders from my baby, said ♪ ♪ Don't you come home drunk no more ♪ ♪ I stop by a fence ♪ ♪ To visit with a friend of mine ♪ ♪ I just dropped in for a minute ♪ ♪ But I overstayed my time ♪ ♪ Let me go home, whiskey ♪ ♪ Let me walk out that door ♪ ♪ Let me go home, whiskey ♪ ♪ Let me walk out that door ♪ ♪ I got orders ♪ ♪ Don't you come home juiced no more ♪ [ Guitar solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -The wizard, Mr. Vizard on the saxophone.

[ Cheering ] [ Sax solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪ Why, oh, why does whiskey ♪ ♪ Make me lose my head?

♪ ♪ It's got me sitting at a bar ♪ ♪ When I should be home in bed ♪ ♪ Let me go home, whiskey ♪ ♪ Let me walk out that door ♪ ♪ Let me go home, whiskey ♪ ♪ Let me walk out that door ♪ ♪ I got orders from my baby, said ♪ ♪ Don't you come home juiced no more ♪ Lucky Moore, steel guitar!

[ Steel guitar playing ] Gah!

♪♪ [ Cheering ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Whiskey every mornin' ♪ [ Cheering ] ♪ Whiskey every night ♪ ♪ As long as I get my whiskey ♪ ♪ Everything's alright ♪ ♪ Let me go home, whiskey ♪ ♪ Let me walk out that door ♪ ♪ Let me go home, whiskey ♪ Let me walk out that door ♪ I got orders ♪ -♪ Who from?

♪ -♪ Don't you come home juiced no more ♪ Here's the band.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] Whiskey!

[ Song ends ] [ Shouts ] [ Jazzy country playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ After you've gone and left me cryin' ♪ ♪ After you've gone, there's no denyin' ♪ ♪ You'll feel bad ♪ ♪ You'll feel sad ♪ ♪ You'll miss the sweetest pal you've ever had ♪ -♪ There'll come a time, now don't forget it ♪ ♪ There'll come a time when you'll regret it ♪ ♪ Someday when you are long dead ♪ ♪ You're gonna miss my love and you won't be on it ♪ ♪ After you've gone, after you've gone away ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Guitar solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Fiddle enters ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Tempo increases ] -♪ After you've gone and left me cryin' ♪ ♪ After you've gone, there's no denyin' ♪ ♪ You feel blue, you feel sad ♪ -♪ You miss the best pal that you ever had ♪ -♪ There'll come a time, now don't forget it ♪ ♪ There'll come a time when you'll regret it ♪ ♪ Someday when you've grown lonely ♪ ♪ Your heart will break like mine ♪ ♪ And you'll want me only ♪ ♪ After you've gone ♪ ♪ After you've gone away ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -♪ I can't give you anything but love, baby ♪ ♪ That's the only thing I've plenty of, now, baby ♪ ♪ Dream a while, scheme a while ♪ ♪ And you're sure to find ♪ ♪ Happiness and I guess ♪ ♪ All those things you've always pined for ♪ ♪ Ain't it nice to see you lookin' swell, baby?

♪ ♪ Diamond bracelets ♪ ♪ Woolworth's don't sell, baby ♪ -That's right!

-♪ Till that lucky day you know darn well, baby ♪ -♪ And I can't give you anything but love ♪ Ah, you know it, baby!

-What about it?

[ Steel guitar solo ] ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Piano solo playing ] [ Applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ I'm gonna tell you now ♪ ♪ I can't give you anything but love, baby ♪ -♪ Are you sure?

♪ -♪ That's the only thing I've plenty of, now, baby ♪ ♪ Dream a while, scheme a while ♪ ♪ You're sure to find ♪ -♪ What's that, Ray?

♪ -♪ Happiness and I guess ♪ ♪ All those little bitty things you've ever, ever... -♪ Well, ain't it nice to see you looking swell, baby?

♪ -♪ That's right ♪ -♪ Diamond bracelets ♪ ♪ Woolworth's won't sell, now, baby ♪ -♪ I'll give you diamonds, girl, don't worry ♪ -♪ Till that lucky day you know darn well, baby ♪ -♪ I can't give you anything but love ♪ -All together now, here we go.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Ain't it nice to see you looking swell, baby?

♪ -♪ Yeah, baby ♪ -♪ Diamond bracelets ♪ ♪ Woolworth's will never sell, baby ♪ -♪ Ah, I'll buy you diamonds, girl ♪ -♪ Till that lucky day you know darn well, baby ♪ -♪ I can't give you anything ♪ ♪ I can't give you anything ♪ ♪ I can't give you anything but love ♪ ♪♪ [ Cheers and applause ] -That's right.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Song ends ] -It's your last chance to dance and I would suggest that you "Boogie Back to Texas"!

[ Cheering ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Right!

♪♪ ♪ Been gone so long, I can't wait to get back home ♪ ♪ Home to the Lone Star State, another day I just can't wait ♪ ♪ Look out boys, I'm a-headed your way ♪ ♪ I got a mind that wanders in a '57 Chevrolet ♪ ♪ Hold on tight, I got a license to fly ♪ ♪ With the pedal to the metal watch me roll on by ♪ ♪ Wanna boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ ♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ We're gonna boogie back to Texas ♪ ♪ Eight beats to the mile ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Rollin' out of New York, Philadelphia, PA ♪ ♪ Pittsburgh, wheelin', West Virginia all the way ♪ ♪ Rollin' through Ohio, gonna make it to Kentucky ♪ ♪ Gonna make it by the mornin' if I'm fast and if I'm lucky ♪ ♪ Hold on tight, I'm a-homeward bound ♪ ♪ Gonna boogie back to Austin, back to my hometown ♪ ♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ We're gonna boogie back to Texas ♪ ♪ Eight beats to the mile ♪ Here we go, boys!

♪♪ [ Guitar solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Fiddle solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, I finally see the state line starin' at me ♪ ♪ Oklahoma City's just a memory ♪ ♪ Forth Worth, Dallas, I roll on by ♪ ♪ Waco now less than 50 miles ♪ ♪ Clear the roads, I'm a-headin' that way ♪ ♪ Gonna boogie back to Texas 'cross the U.S. of A ♪ ♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ Boogie back to Texas ♪ -♪ We're gonna boogie back to Texas ♪ ♪ Eight beats to the mile ♪ Here we go, boys!

[ Horns playing ] Right!

♪♪ -♪ We're gonna boogie back to Texas ♪ ♪ Eight beats to the mile ♪ ♪ Can't you see I'm on my way?

♪ ♪♪ ♪ Boogie!

♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheering ] [ Mid-tempo country music playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ My brain is cloudy ♪ ♪ My soul is upside down ♪ -[ Man shouts ] ♪♪ -♪ My brain is cloudy ♪ ♪ My soul is upside down ♪ I've been on Willie's bus.

[ Cheering ] ♪ When I get that slow down feelin' ♪ ♪ I know the blues must be somewhere around ♪ ♪♪ What do you think?

-♪ Well, I woke up this mornin' ♪ [ Cheering ] ♪ Looked out the door ♪ ♪ I can tell my milk cow ♪ ♪ I can tell by the way she lows ♪ ♪ If you see my milk cow ♪ ♪ Please, drive her on home ♪ -♪ Put her in low and drive, Leon?

♪ -♪ Because I ain't had no milk and butter ♪ ♪ Whoo!

Since my cow's been gone ♪ ♪ Come on, now ♪ -How about Billy Briggs on the saxophone?

[ Saxophone solo playing ] [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Guitar solo playing ] [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ You gotta treat me right, honey ♪ ♪ Day by day ♪ ♪ Get out your little prayer book ♪ ♪ Get down upon your knees and pray ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're gonna need me ♪ ♪ You're gonna need my help someday ♪ -Oh, you don't need any help, Leon!

♪ Yeah, you're gonna be sorry ♪ ♪ You treated me this way ♪ ♪ Sooie!

♪ ♪♪ [ Steel guitar solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I tried everything, baby ♪ ♪ To get along with you ♪ ♪ Now I'm gonna tell you what I'm gonna do ♪ -♪ Well, I'm gonna stop my cryin' ♪ ♪ Gonna leave you alone ♪ ♪ If you don't believe that I'm leaving, big mama ♪ ♪ Just count the days, I'm gone ♪ -♪ See, you ain't gonna see ♪ ♪ My sweet face no more ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Yeah, you're gonna be sorry ♪ ♪ You treat me this way ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Milk cow, baby ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] [ Song ends ] ♪♪ -The first season could have been the only season of "Austin City Limits," but it was that first show, the first episode, with you and Bob Wills' original Texas Playboys, minus Bob, sadly, and that's what got the ball rolling from that point on.

-This was our introduction to the world.

Those of you who are old enough to have 40-, 50-year-old memories, it's very unusual to be able to sit in this place where it all happened.

-If you just stand here for a minute and listen, you can almost hear the echoes of the all of the people who have filled this room.

-The history has been preserved by all of these shows is immeasurable.

-Brings back a lot of memories, so we need to make some more.

-Good idea.

-[ Chuckles ] ♪♪ [ Up-tempo country music playing ] ♪♪ -Oh, fiddles, yeah!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I was born in Louisiana ♪ ♪ Down on the ol' bayou ♪ ♪ Raised on shrimps and catfish ♪ ♪ Mame's good gumbo ♪ ♪ I got the ramblin' fever ♪ ♪ Said bye to Ma and Pa ♪ ♪ Crossed that ol' Red River ♪ ♪ This is what I saw ♪ ♪ I saw miles and miles of Texas ♪ ♪ All the stars up in the sky ♪ ♪ I saw miles and miles of Texas ♪ ♪ Gonna live here till I die ♪ Here we go, boys!

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I rode up in to Austin ♪ ♪ The cradle of the West ♪ ♪ Just ask any cowboy ♪ ♪ He'll tell you it's the best ♪ ♪ I met a Texas beauty, I got friendly with her pa ♪ ♪ I looked into her big blue eyes ♪ ♪ And this is what I saw ♪ ♪ I saw miles and miles of Texas ♪ ♪ All the stars up in the sky ♪ ♪ I saw miles and miles of Texas ♪ ♪ Gonna live here till I die ♪ [ Guitar solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ I started tamin' broncos ♪ ♪ I made every rodeo ♪ ♪ Until I met a tough one ♪ ♪ You know his name was Devil Joe ♪ ♪ Well, I grabbed hold of his bridle ♪ ♪ Just to ride this old outlaw ♪ ♪ He threw me from the saddle ♪ ♪ And this is what I saw ♪ -♪ I saw miles and miles of Texas ♪ ♪ All the stars up in the sky ♪ -One more, folks!

♪ I saw miles and miles of Texas ♪ -♪ Gonna live here till I die ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ [ Cheering ] [ Mid-tempo country music playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ Heading for the station with a pack on my back ♪ ♪ Tired of transportation in the back of a hack ♪ ♪ I love to hear the rhythm of the clickety clack ♪ ♪ And hear the lonesome whistle, see the smoke from the stack ♪ ♪ I palled around with Democratic fellows named Mack ♪ ♪ So, take me right back to the track, Jack ♪ -♪ Choo choo, choo choo ch' boogie ♪ ♪ Woo woo, woo woo ch' boogie ♪ ♪ Choo choo, choo choo ch' boogie ♪ -♪ Take me right back to the track, Jack ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Boogie-a-woogie, hey!

[ Piano solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well, I reach my destination but alas and alack ♪ ♪ I need some compensation to get back in the black ♪ ♪ I take a morning paper from the top of the stack ♪ ♪ And read the situation from the front to the back ♪ ♪ The only job that's open take a man with a knack ♪ ♪ So put it right back in the rack, Jack ♪ -♪ Choo choo, choo choo ch' boogie ♪ ♪ Woo woo, woo woo ch' boogie ♪ ♪ Choo choo, choo choo ch' boogie ♪ -♪ Take me right back to the track, Jack ♪ [ Steel guitar solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Saxophone solo playing ] [ Fiddle enters ] ♪♪ [ Guitar solo playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Well ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Take me right back to the track, Jack ♪ -♪ Choo choo, choo choo ch' boogie ♪ ♪ Woo woo, woo woo ch' boogie ♪ ♪ Choo choo, choo choo ch' boogie ♪ -♪ Take me right back to the track, Jack ♪ ♪♪ Right!

♪♪ -♪ Take me right back to the track, Jack ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Choo choo!

♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ -What about "Pancho & Lefty," how would that be?

♪♪ [ Cheering ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Livin' on the road, my friends ♪ ♪ Was gonna keep you free and clean ♪ ♪ Now you wear your skin like iron ♪ ♪ And your breath is hard as kerosene ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You weren't your mama's only boy ♪ ♪ But her favorite one, it seems ♪ ♪ She began to cry when you said goodbye ♪ ♪♪ ♪ And sank to your dreams ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Pancho was a bandit, boys ♪ ♪ His horse was fast as polished steel ♪ ♪ He wore his gun outside his pants ♪ ♪ For all the honest world to feel ♪ ♪ Pancho met his match, you know ♪ ♪ In the deserts down in Mexico ♪ ♪ Nobody heard his dyin' words ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Oh, but that's the way it goes ♪ ♪♪ -♪ All Federales say ♪ ♪ Could have had him any day ♪ -♪ We only let him slip away ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Out of kindness, I suppose ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Lefty, he can't sing the blues ♪ ♪ All night long like he used to ♪ ♪ The dust that Pancho bit down South ♪ ♪ Ended up in Lefty's mouth ♪ ♪ The day they lay poor Pancho low ♪ ♪ Lefty split for Ohio ♪ ♪ Where he got the bread to go ♪ ♪♪ ♪ There ain't nobody knows ♪ ♪♪ -♪ All the Federales say ♪ ♪ Could have had him any day ♪ -♪ We only let him slip away ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Out of kindness, I suppose ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ The poets tell how Pancho fell ♪ ♪ And Lefty's livin' in a cheap hotel ♪ ♪ The desert's quiet ♪ ♪ Cleveland's cold ♪ ♪ And so the story ends, I'm told ♪ ♪ I don't need your prayers, it's true ♪ -♪ Save a few for Lefty, too ♪ -♪ He only did what he had to do ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Now he's growin' old ♪ ♪♪ -♪ All the Federales say ♪ ♪ We could have had him any day ♪ -♪ We only let him slip away ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Out of kindness, I suppose ♪ ♪♪ -♪ A few gray Federales say ♪ ♪ Could have had him any day ♪ -♪ We only let him go so long ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Out of kindness, I suppose ♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Take it away.

"Take Me Back to Tulsa."

♪♪ Oh, yeah, Barry, join in there!

♪♪ All those fiddles, gang!

♪♪ ♪ Where's that gal with the red dress on?

♪ ♪ Some folk call her Dinah ♪ -♪ Yeah ♪ -♪ Stole my heart away from me ♪ ♪ Way down in Louisiana ♪ -♪ Take me back to Tulsa ♪ ♪ I'm too young to marry ♪ ♪ Take me back to Tulsa ♪ ♪ I'm too young to marry ♪ -♪ Little bee sucks the blossom ♪ -♪ Right ♪ -♪ Big bee gets the honey ♪ -♪ Uh-huh ♪ -♪ Poor man does the work ♪ ♪ The beer joints get the money ♪ -♪ Take me back to Tulsa ♪ ♪ I'm too young to marry ♪ ♪ Take me back to Tulsa ♪ ♪ I'm too young to marry ♪ ♪♪ -Yeah!

♪♪ ♪♪ -♪ I'd like to go back to Tulsa ♪ -♪ Yeah ♪ -♪ You can bet your boots I would ♪ ♪ Just let me off at Archer ♪ ♪ I'll walk down to Greenwood ♪ -♪ Take me back to Tulsa ♪ ♪ I'm too young to marry ♪ ♪ Take me back to Tulsa ♪ ♪ I'm too young to marry ♪ -Well, then play that mandolin!

-Ah!

♪♪ ♪♪ [ Fiddles playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Walk and talk Suzy ♪ ♪ Walk and talk Suzy ♪ ♪ Walk and talk Suzy ♪ ♪ Walk and talk Suzy ♪ ♪ Take me back to Tulsa ♪ ♪ I'm too young to marry ♪ ♪ Take me back to Tulsa ♪ ♪ I'm too young to marry ♪ -♪ Take me back to Tulsa ♪ ♪ I'm too young to marry ♪ ♪ Take me back to Tulsa ♪ ♪ I'm too young to marry ♪ ♪ Take me back to Tulsa ♪ ♪ I'm too young to marry ♪ ♪ Take me back to Tulsa ♪ ♪ I'm too young to wed thee ♪ -In other words... [ Song ends ] [ Up-tempo country music playing ] [ Rhythmic clapping ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ -Everybody with a hoot and a holler!

Aah!

[ Tempo increasing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] -This program was funded in part by... ♪♪ ♪♪