All My Ex's Live in Texas
"All My Ex's Live In Texas" is a song written by Sanger D. Shafer and Lyndia J. Shafer, and recorded by American country music singer George Strait. It was released in April 1987 as the second single from Strait's album Ocean Front Property. "All My Ex's Live In Texas" was nominated for Best Male Country Vocal Performance at the 1988 Grammy Awards.
| "All My Ex's Live in Texas" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by George Strait | ||||
| from the album Ocean Front Property | ||||
| B-side | "I'm All Behind You Now" | |||
| Released | April 10, 1987 | |||
| Recorded | September 23, 1986 | |||
| Genre | Country | |||
| Length | 3:22 | |||
| Label | MCA 53087 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Sanger D. Shafer Lyndia J. Shafer [1] | |||
| Producer(s) | Jimmy Bowen, George Strait | |||
| George Strait singles chronology | ||||
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A version of the song recorded by its co-author Sanger D. Shafer appeared in the film Road House, the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas[2] and TV show Ash vs Evil Dead. Rapper Drake mentions the song in his single "HYFR".
The format of the song is that of a list song.
Content
The narrator explains that he had lived most of his life in Texas along the Frio River (Brazos River in Shafer's original recording, Colorado River in his later performances), but that a string of failed relationships with women in that state that ended disastrously (such as going insane, sending the law after him and walking out before the honeymoon) prompted him to flee to Tennessee; he still relives his more pleasant times in Texas by way of Transcendental Meditation each night. The song is known for its Western Swing style rhythm.
Critical reception
Kevin John Coyne of Country Universe gave the song a B+ grade, saying that "you can almost hear the guy smirking as he sings this swinging hit, running down a list of jilted lovers from all over the Lone Star state."[3]
Charts
| Chart (1987) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Hot Country Songs (Billboard)[4] | 1 |
| Canadian RPM Country Tracks[5] | 1 |
References
- "All My Ex's Live in Texas". BMI Repertoire. BMI.
- Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (Box Set) - Original Game Soundtrack". AllMusic. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
- Coyne, Kevin John (May 28, 2012). "Retro Single Review: George Strait, 'All My Ex's Live in Texas'". Country Universe.
- "George Strait Chart History (Hot Country Songs)". Billboard.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Country Hits: 1944-2006, Second edition. Record Research. p. 336.
External links