Texas In My Rear View Mirror (Bonus Track)

Texas In My Rear View Mirror
Mac Davis Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴I was just fifteen and out of control lost to James Dean and rock and roll
I knew down deep in my country soul that I had to get away
Hollywood was a lady in red who danced in my dreams as I tossed in bed
I knew I?d wind up in jail or dead if I have to stay
I thought happiness was Lubbock Texas in my rearview mirror
My mama kept calling me home but I just did not want to hear her
And the vision was getting clearer in my dream
So I let out one night in June stoned on the glow of the Texas moon Humming an old Buddy Holly tune called Peggy Sue (pretty, pretty Peggy Sue)
With my favorite jeans and a cheap guitar I ran off chasing a distant star
If Buddy Holly could make it that far then I figured I could too
I thought happiness was Lubbock Texas in my rearview mirror
My mama kept calling me home but I just did not want to hear her
And the vision was getting clearer in my dream
But the Hollywood moon didn't smile the same old smile that I?d grown up with
The lady in red just wanted my last dime
And I cried myself to sleep at night too dumb to run too scared to fight
And too proud to admit it at the time
So I got me some gigs on Saturday night not much more than orchestrated fights
I?d come home drunk and I tried to write but the words came out all wrong
Hell bent and bound for a wasted youth too much gin and not enough vermouth
And no one to teach me to seek the truth before I put an end to this song
I still thought happiness was Lubbock Texas in my rearview mirror
My mama kept calling me home but I just could not, would not hear her
And the vision was getting clearer in my dream
Well I thank God each and every day for giving me the music and the words to say
I?d never had made it any other way he was my only friend
Now I sleep a little better each night and when I look in the mirror in the morning light
The man I see was both wrong and right he's going home again
I guessed happiness was Lubbock Texas in my rearview mirror
But now happiness was Lubbock Texas growing nearer and dearer
And the vision was getting clearer in my dream

And I think I finally know just what it means
And when I die you can bury me in Lubbock Texas in my jeans


Overall Meaning

In this song, Mac Davis reflects on his younger days when he was just a teenager “out of control” who was driven by his love for James Dean and rock and roll music. Davis had a deep desire to escape his hometown of Lubbock, Texas, and pursue his dreams in Hollywood. In his dreams, Hollywood was a lady in red who symbolized success and fame. Davis knew he had to leave Lubbock if he wanted to make it big, and he thought that happiness lay in leaving Texas behind.


Davis did leave Lubbock behind and made his way to Hollywood, but he soon realized that his dream was not what he had imagined it to be. The Hollywood moon was not the same moon he had grown up with, and the lady in red just wanted his money. Davis struggled to make it as a musician, often resorting to “orchestrated fights” on Saturday nights to make a living. He turned to alcohol to cope with his struggles and found himself unable to write the music he wanted to write.


Over time, Davis began to realize that his happiness lay not in Hollywood, but in the place he had left behind. He thanks God for giving him the music and words to create the life he wanted, but also acknowledges that he made mistakes along the way. Ultimately, Davis comes to the realization that happiness lies not in escaping your roots, but in embracing them. He longs to return to Lubbock, even to be buried there, and realizes that his “vision was getting clearer in my dream.”


Line by Line Meaning

I was just fifteen and out of control lost to James Dean and rock and roll
At the age of fifteen, I was reckless and fascinated by James Dean and rock and roll.


I knew down deep in my country soul that I had to get away
Deep inside, I knew I had to leave my hometown and pursue my dreams.


Hollywood was a lady in red who danced in my dreams as I tossed in bed
I dreamed of the glamour of Hollywood as a seductive temptress in a red dress.


I knew I’d wind up in jail or dead if I have to stay
I had a strong feeling that if I didn't leave, I would end up in trouble, even if it meant death or imprisonment.


I thought happiness was Lubbock Texas in my rearview mirror
I believed that leaving Lubbock was the key to my happiness.


My mama kept calling me home but I just did not want to hear her
Although my mother wanted me to come back home, I refused to listen to her.


And the vision was getting clearer in my dream
In my dreams, my vision of success was becoming more focused and achievable.


So I let out one night in June stoned on the glow of the Texas moon
One June night, I left under the spell of the moon's radiance.


Humming an old Buddy Holly tune called Peggy Sue (pretty, pretty Peggy Sue)
I sang an old Buddy Holly song called 'Peggy Sue' as I left.


With my favorite jeans and a cheap guitar I ran off chasing a distant star
I left with only my favorite jeans and a cheap guitar, following a distant dream.


If Buddy Holly could make it that far then I figured I could too
I believed that if Buddy Holly could succeed, I could too.


But the Hollywood moon didn't smile the same old smile that I’d grown up with
The bright lights of Hollywood were not what I had always imagined.


The lady in red just wanted my last dime
In reality, Hollywood was more interested in taking my money than helping me succeed.


And I cried myself to sleep at night too dumb to run too scared to fight
I cried myself to sleep, feeling powerless and unable to escape my situation.


And too proud to admit it at the time
At the time, I was too proud to admit that Hollywood had not lived up to my expectations.


So I got me some gigs on Saturday night not much more than orchestrated fights
To get by, I played some gigs on Saturday nights, which often turned into fights.


I’d come home drunk and I tried to write but the words came out all wrong
I would come home drunk and attempt to write songs, but my words never seemed right.


Hell bent and bound for a wasted youth too much gin and not enough vermouth
I was on a dangerous path of wasting my youth, consuming too much alcohol.


And no one to teach me to seek the truth before I put an end to this song
No one was there to guide me towards the truth before I wrote this song.


Well I thank God each and every day for giving me the music and the words to say
Now, I feel grateful to God for giving me the ability to create music and express myself through my lyrics.


I’d never had made it any other way he was my only friend
Without music, I don't think I would have made it, as it was my only constant companion.


Now I sleep a little better each night and when I look in the mirror in the morning light
Nowadays, I sleep better and am happier, reflected in the person I see in the morning mirror.


The man I see was both wrong and right he's going home again
I realize that both the decisions I made were both right and wrong as I head back to my hometown.


But now happiness was Lubbock Texas growing nearer and dearer
I realize that happiness can be found in my hometown, and it's becoming more important to me.


And I think I finally know just what it means
I now understand the true meaning of happiness and appreciate it more.


And when I die you can bury me in Lubbock Texas in my jeans
Finally, when I die, I want to be buried in my hometown of Lubbock Texas, in my favorite jeans.


Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: MAC DAVIS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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