I spent some time talking to James McMurtry after his show. He is really a cool guy who seems like he really gives a damn about talking to strangers who come to hear his music. I watched him take time to talk to a group of people who wanted to congratulate him on a great show. That kind of moment is always fun. This guy is a great songwriter. He wrote the only song that was recorded on Robert Earl Keen’s 2003 release of “Farm Fresh Onions” that was not written by Robert. The song was called “Out Here in the Middle.” I love both versions of this song that these two guys recorded. I first met Robert Earl Keen back in 2003 as this album released for an interview but I never asked him about this particular song. Now I wished I had something to offer first hand…I will save that for the next REK encounter which I hope is coming soon as it has been too long. Thanks James McMurtry for a great evening and please keep those awesome songs coming. This is one talented artist that everyone should go see live. I highly recommend it.
hey broke into your car last night
Took the stereo
Now you say you dont know why
You even live there anymore
The garage man didnt see a thing
So you guess it was an inside job
You made a reservation
Table for three
Said you had to wait
Somebody mustve bribed the maitre d
The boss got mad
And he blamed it all on you
The food was bad
And the deal fell through
Out here in the middle
You can park it on the street
You step up to the counter
You nearly always get a seat
Nobody steals, nobody cheats
Wish you were here, my love
Wish you were here, my love
We got tractor pulls and Red Man chew
Corporate relo-refugees that need love too
And we ain’t seen Elvis
In a year or two
We got justification for wealth and greed
Amber waves of grain and bathtub speed
Now we even got Starbucks
What else you need
Out here in the middle
Where the centers on the right
And the ghost of William Jennings Bryan
Preaches every night
To save the lonely souls
In the dashboard light
Wish you were here, my love
Wish you were here, my love
Out here in the middle
Where the buffalo roam
We’re puttin’ up towers
For your cell phones
And we screen all applicants
With a fine-tooth comb
Wish you were here, my love
Wish you were here, my love
Wish you were here, my love