Crossmaglen (Performed by Shebeen)

Joe McDonnell

Roll Of Honour

Bring Them Home

Gerard Casey on Wikipedia http://tinyurl.com/mygj2o2 

The Ballad Of Gerard Casey - Spirit Of Freedom

A lively western swing tune celebrating how the sound of Texas found a second home out west. Home of Western Swing tells the story of Bob Wills heading to Hollywood, Tex Williams, Spade Cooley, Hank Penny, and the California dance halls that kept the fiddles playing and the pickers paid. A musical nod to the Dust Bowl migrants and the Golden State’s role in keeping the dance alive.

LYRICS
(c) 2025 Ggreg Snyder

[Verse 1]
Bob Wills headed west to Hollywood town,
Fiddle in hand, put the hammer down.
Rounded up the Playboys, set ‘em to play,
In a California honky-tonk way.
Made them movies, took that sound on tour,
Spread the Texas style from shore to shore.
He said, “The world needs a fiddle to sing,”
So he brought it to the coast with a Western Swing.

[Chorus]
Now don’t get me wrong, I love that Texas thing,
Where the ranch hands danced and the fiddles ring.
But give a cheer for the Golden State scene—
When you come to California, it’s the home of Western Swing.

[Verse 2]
Tex Williams crooned with a style and grin,
Spade Cooley led that big band in.
Hank Penny played till the break of day,
Kept the cowboys swingin’ down L.A. way.
They might not have birthed it, but they fed the flame,
Put a little Hollywood shine on the Texas name.
They kept those pickers and fiddlers fed,
With a Western beat and a Bakersfield thread.

[Chorus]
Now don’t get me wrong, I love that Texas thing,
Where the steel guitars and the cowgirls sing.
But raise a glass to that westward dream—
When you come to California, it’s the home of Western Swing.

[Bridge]
Oklahoma rolled in with the Dust Bowl wind,
Brought the songs and the drive to begin again.
We opened the dance halls, said “Y’all come play,”
‘Cause out here, the music still feels that way.

[Verse 3 / Tag Verse]
So from Tulsa Town to old San Jose,
Let's give that rhythm and steady sway.
Now Texas started the fiddlin’ thing,
But the coast gave it wings and let it swing.

[Final Chorus]
Now don’t get me wrong, I love that Texas thing,
It’s the roots and soul where the cowboys swing.
But the west wind’s hummin’, hear the banjos ring—
When you come to California, it’s the home of Western Swing.

[Outro]
Yeah, the Lone Star birthed it, but the Coast made it sing—
When you come to California, it’s the home of Western Swing!

Fenian Record Player

The Davitts

Recent comments

JokingOsprey666

cossak

Gerard Walsh

Robbie Logan

Related tracks