A true American poet and songwriter, those are actual places and people I believe. His father is Larry McMurtry who wrote Lonesome Dove, Last Picture Show and many many more books, writing genes run deep in that family.

This artist is my musical hero. There are so many good songs over the decades. He gets nowhere near the recognition his talent (musicianship and lyrics) deserves. I might sign up as a Patreon just to have y’all react to some of his best. 👀

He describes driving through Oklahoma so accurately.

One of the greatest "story" songs of all time.

Hillbilly Nation representing… for better or worse… but they’re my people and I love them. Love this song. Thanks for reacting to it. Great choice, Paul!

I love how long this song is. It's one of those special songs that you just don't want to ever end!

I went to school with James. We'd play guitar together.

And a shout out to you and you and you and yours. Fun track. Gotta look up a lyric video. Who likes blues?!! Everyone with a soul, doooood. Thass hoo. Lordy. 🤠😳

I know I have been to every single place he has referenced in this song (some of them I have lived in)

I enjoyed it because I have taken that trip from Dallas to Missouri many times and have literally seen all the places he mentions in the song (Club 69, The McDonald's over the turnpike, The knife store in Tushka etc)

God's people in that song....great song...enjoyed that...amusingly real...authentic electric blues...good one.

He does a live solo version that is phenomenal.

I'm from Kansas and while I don't live the Choctaw Bingo life, I know lots of people who do.

As mentioned in the comments below, James is the son of Larry Mcmurtry (who also wrote the screenplay to Brokeback Mountain with longtime writing partner Diana Ossana). He cut his musical teeth in the early 1980s playing in downtown Tucson bars and coffee houses while attending the University of Arizona, and released his first LP in 1989. McMurtry is a frequent visitor to Tucson, and just did a show last Saturday night. Unfortunately, I was a few blocks away attending a show by local psychedelic indie Mambo band, Orkesta Mendoza, along with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra. To top it off, Jefferson Starship was performing within walking distance of both. I really need to find a way to clone myself.

Good song, very true.

I live in Kansas - grew up here - been to Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and all around and I know the kind of people he sings about and shows in the video. I only like'em from afar - like way way afar cuz theys all some dangerous folks. The meth, the shine, the other drugs are integral to that particular culture. Them folks don't generally bother or threaten or harm anyone that doesn't get in their way when they're just goin' about their business and tryin a have some fun. If you cross paths with 'em just let em be...mine ya own bidness and everybody will be fine. If you see them don't make faces and shake your head at them - or at least don't let 'em see you do it. Because if you don't start any sh!t there won't be any - get it? LOL They can be amusing, confounding, loud - ALWAYS loud - boisterous, crude, raw but just keep some distance and go about your own business and you'll be fine. They love who they are - they are unashamed, un-embarrassed, unapologetic for how they look the things they say and the things they do. If you foolishly get into a fight with one of em just know going in. YOU WILL LOSE that fight. So don't even bother. They are "country strong" and they don't mind gitt'n down in the mud the dirt and the gravel and the pavement bite'n, kick'n, punch'n, - in fact they LOVE it. If you're lucky enough to get in a punch good enough to give a black eye or a fat lip they'll wear that remnant like a badge or a trophy until it heals. Like I said - they LOVE it. So again I say best advice is to just keep your distance move along and stay in one piece.

James McMurtry is the son of Larry McMurtry the author of the Lonesome dove books...

My only experience with bingo was casual play in elementary school. But, at one point "Papago Bingo" was wildly popular in Tucson. This came about before native American tribes were allowed to have full blown casinos, and bingo was the only form of legalized gambling in the state. So, we had this giant cavernous building on the southwest outskirts dedicated to just bingo. Today the Papago are known as Tohono O’odham, which means "desert dwellers" in their native language. It turns out that "Papago" was the Spanish pronunciation of an insulting term from the rival Pima tribe meaning "bean eater", which referred to fact that a major portion of their diet was native tepary beans.

That was fun! Love bingo(I mean seriously, I have attended many,many bingo games like I have stories)😂Also, I drove across the country many years back and one of my favorite states was Oklahoma. The casinos mainly but it was just cool overall.

It’s Mc MURTRY

You missed the point. He's not an Advocate of any of that. He's a story teller. That's all.

Check out Candyland...

I think the young man might be catching a little bit of song. But I don't think the little girl understands the lyrics at all

It's a hillbilly travel loge

Since you are musicians, I will give you the benefit of the doubt and believe you were being sarcastic by saying " Nobody likes the Blues!" It's the foundation! The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll / Muddy Waters - Topic kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gJp-gdyL0tOtY4k.html

Seems my comments have been removed. Censorship?

Ray Wylie Hubbard does it better.