Austin City Limits

-"Austin City Limits" presents a country music short story songwriter, Brandy Clark... - Thought I'd play it my whole life Never even crossed my mind Back when it was new It'd end up in a pawn shop on Charlotte Avenue -...and gulf and western music from Texas' own Charley Crockett.

- I know she don't want me, least not like she say I know she don't love me, least not like she say So I'm goin' back to Texas Already on my way Bye -Recorded live from the Moody Theater, it's "Austin City Limits."

-Now, one of country music's finest singer/songwriters, Brandy Clark.

- I used to want to be a cowboy A shadow in a sunset That's why I started smokin' cigarettes I used to want to be a cowboy I used to want to be Elvis Drive a pink Cadillac car That's why I learned to play the guitar I used to want to be Elvis There's a lot of things I used to want to do Till I met you Now I want to be honest Now I want to be better Now I want to be the me I should've been When we were together I want to be at least almost close to worth your love I want to be who You thought I was Used to want to join the circus And hang around with the freak show Wish I'd learned to walk a tight rope I used to want to join the circus Used to want to stay 18 I used to want an Airstream With a lawn chair tumbleweed view Now I just want you And I want to be honest Now I want to be better I want to be the me I should've been When we were together I want to be at least almost close to worth your love I want to be who You thought I was There's a lot of things I used to want to be Till you stopped lovin' me Now I want to be steady I want to be forever Now I want to be the me I could've been When we were together I want to be at least almost close to worth your love I want to be who You thought I was Yeah, I want to be who You thought I was [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you!

I'm Brandy Clark.

And this is a real bucket list gig for me.

I've always wanted to play "Austin City Limits."

I grew up watching it.

[ Cheers and applause ] You know, as a kid, you don't usu-- You know, like, you kind of don't like the smarter channels, you know, until you get older and get smarter, but I do remember always loving PBS and "Austin City Limits," so it's a real -- Like, I said, it's a real treat for me and everybody up here tonight to be here, so thank you for being here with us.

[ Applause ] [ Playing "Pawn Shop" ] She pushed her wedding ring across the counter And said, "Tell me that it's worth more than I think" There's a bus to Baton Rouge leaves in an hour And $90 cash buys me a seat That quarter-carat, picture-perfect dream Wasn't all it was cracked up to be It ain't stolen, it ain't hot Someone told me it cost a lot Man, ain't that the truth?

Thought I'd wear it my whole life Never even crossed my mind Back when it was new It'd end up in a pawn shop on Charlotte Avenue He walked in with it slung over his shoulder He said, "Man, you'll never give me a fair price" But this young man's town's just watchin' me get older And the songs I sing don't feed my kids and wife There's a few belt buckle scratches on the back And the B-string tends to fall a little flat It ain't stolen, it ain't hot Someone told me it cost a lot Man, ain't that the truth?

Thought I'd play it my whole life Never even crossed my mind Back when it was new It'd end up in a pawn shop on Charlotte Avenue Dreams don't die even when they're broken Tomorrow, when that sign says "open" That guitar or that wedding band Will start a new dream, secondhand Secondhand It ain't stolen, it ain't hot Someone told me cost a lot Man, ain't that the truth?

Thought I'd own it my whole life It never even crossed my mind Back when it was new It'd end up in a pawn shop on Charlotte Avenue [ Cheers and applause ] It'll light up your smile When it lights up your smoke And then, buy you a drink It'll burn in your throat With lips soaked in kerosene A kiss is a match It just takes one to make the whole Goddamn thing catch 'Cause love is a fire Out of control The desperate desire The higher it goes Once it sparks that devil's dance In your heart and soul You know it can't be contained It won't be tamed Love is a fire Let's go down in flames We've both been burned But we're still gonna play 'Cause fools never learn Nor do we beg We'll burn up this bed Till we burn down this house We'll end up ashes But we can't stop it now Love is a fire Out of control The desperate desire The higher it goes Once it sparks that devil's dance In your heart and soul You know it can't be contained It won't be tamed Love is a fire So, baby, tonight Let's go down in flames Flames We're already lit So who needs a match?

Just kiss me like kerosene And let the whole damn thing catch Love is a fire Yeah, love is a fire Once it sparks that devil's dance In your heart and soul You know it can't be contained It won't be tamed Love is a fire Let's go down in flames Let's go down in flames Let's go down in flames Let's go down [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

So, the end of 2020, NPR asked me if I would write a song kind of memorializing people who had been lost during the pandemic, and I didn't really know how to hook into that, you know.

I was writing with some really talented people one day right before Christmas, and we were on a Zoom at that point, and one of them got on and said, you know, she'd been up been up for a long time 'cause her aunt had passed away the night before.

And another had just lost her mom.

And, so, we started talking about people that we had lost, and I had this idea in my phone forever, and it was just "remember me beautiful, remember me young."

And, so, I said, "Hey, look, you know, whatever we were gonna write today, maybe we should write this.

It feels like it's in the air."

And, so, we did, and NPR featured it, and it has blown my mind the response that this song has got with people who send pictures of people that they have lost.

And we usually do a slide show.

Tonight, we have the beautiful skyline of Austin behind us, so we won't be doing a slide show tonight, but it really is very touching and moving to me, the number of people that have been touched by this song.

This one is called "Remember Me Beautiful."

[ Applause ] I thought that woman would live forever I guess I grew up, but I swear she never grew old Sometimes I put on her favorite sweater When I'm all alone and the world feels cold She'd say, "You should've known me when I was 20" When life was a long road ahead with no end I was a fast car riding pretty But I had a ball, and I'd do it all again Remember me beautiful Remember me young Remember me smiling My face towards the sun Remember me happy When you remember what was Oh, but most of all Remember my love" Don't think I ever heard her talk about dying She was just too busy living every day And I want to call her up, and I can't stop crying If Heaven had a phone, I'm sure she'd say "Remember me beautiful Remember me young Remember me smiling My face towards the sun Remember me happy When you remember what was Oh, but most of all Remember my love" I told her she could go if she was ready And I promised her that we'd all be okay She needed me, so I was strong and steady I leaned in close, and I hope she heard me say "Remember me beautiful Remember me young Remember me smiling My face towards the sun Remember me happy When you remember what was Oh, but most of all Remember my love" Oh, remember my love [ Cheers and applause ] [ Playing "Get High" ] She hates her job Loves her kids Bored with her husband Tired of the same old list of things to do So when the to-dos have all been done She sits down at the kitchen table And rolls herself a fat one [ Cheering ] Smoke so sweet Fills the air She maybe ought to crack a window All she can do is stare at the paint That's been peeling off the walls A couple tokes and her troubles Don't seem all that tall You know life will let you down Love will leave you lonely Sometimes to only way to get by Is to get high She laughs out loud At who she used to be A girl who'd a-looked down on The woman smoking weed in her kitchen Sometimes she misses them younger days Seeing the world through rose-colored glasses Instead of this purple haze You know life will let you down Love will leave you lonely Sometimes to only way to get by Is to get high So she tucks her kids In at night Kisses her husband Turns off the light and talks to God Says, "Lord, help me accept what I cannot change But until I learn to do that Thanks for the Mary Jane" You know life will let you down Love will leave you lonely Sometimes to only way to get by Is to get high Yeah, sometimes to only way to get by Sing it with us.

Is to get high [ Cheers and applause ] Well, I hope y'all have enjoyed this evening as much as I have and everyone up on stage has.

[ Cheers and applause ] It feels like it's gone by in about 10 minutes.

So that's how I always know it's fun is when it's fast.

But thank you guys so much for being here tonight.

Like I said, this was a real dream come true for me to be here at "Austin City Limits," and thank you, "Austin City Limits" and PBS for having me.

Until next time.

[ Playing "Hold My Hand" ] Raven is the color Of her long, curly hair Red is the dress That she knows how to wear Bluest eyes I've ever seen Maybe just a touch of green Oh, she could steal most any woman's man This'd be a real good time To hold my hand She walked up and said, "Hello It's been a while" Don't think I didn't notice The nervous in your smile Wasn't that long ago You were a whole lot more than friends So this would be a real good time To hold my hand Don't let this moment linger Now would be the time To reach out with your fingers Get 'em tangled up with mine Let her know for sure That I'm more than just a soft place to land This'd be a real good time To hold my hand If I'm your future And she's your past If it's over with her And our love's gonna last Don't let this moment linger Now would be the time To reach out with your fingers Get 'em tangled up with mine Let her know for sure That I'm more than just a soft place to land This would be a real good time Oh, this would be a real good time This would be a real good time To hold my hand Thank you.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Now here's Charley Crockett and the Blue Drifters.

- Well, tell me, mama, what's goin' on?

Got to tell me, sugar, what's goin' on?

I'm goin' back to Texas Texas is my home I'd stay around here, but I believe it's much too rough I'd stay around here, but I believe it's much too rough I'm goin' back to Texas I believe I've had enough I know she don't want me, least not like she say I know she don't love me, least not like she say So I'm goin' back to Texas Already on my way Bye One hundred won't do Better run and get you three One hundred won't do Better run and get you three Then I's payin' from the penitentiary So, if you see me runnin', something goin' on there When you see me runnin', something goin' on there I'm runnin' back to Texas Talkin' 'bout the time I had I got to go, son!

Well, tell me, darlin' What's the matter now?

Got to tell me, baby What's the matter now?

I'm goin' back to Texas I don't need you anyhow [ Cheers and applause ] Thank ya so much, Austin, Texas.

It's the pleasure of my life to be with you here tonight at "Austin City Limits."

My name's Charley Crockett.

These are the Blue Drifters.

Thank you for having us.

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Playing "In the Corner" ] In the corner, at the table, by the jukebox My favorite mourners and I Talk about these old hard knocks Our lives are measured there by the bar's clocks In the corner, at the table, by the jukebox So step inside where love has died And you'll sure find me With sadness in a haunted place that's bound to be Hidden behind the door that sorrow locked In the corner, at the table, by the jukebox Come on, Nathan.

In the corner, at the table, by the jukebox Come and join me if you ain't able to face life's roadblocks For here is where the sorrow, it don't ever stop In the corner, at the table, by the jukebox So, step inside where love has died And you'll sure find me With sadness in a haunted place that's bound to be Hidden behind the door that sorrow locked In the corner, at the table, by the jukebox Hidden behind the door that sorrow locked In the corner, at the table, by the jukebox [ Cheers and applause ] I sure do love you, James Hand, and I can't wait to see you again.

[ Playing "Welcome To Hard Times" ] Life's a casino, I'm tellin' you And everybody's playin' Boys and girls, women, children, me, and you The dice are loaded and everything's fixed Even a hobo would tell you this Welcome to hard times And feelin' low Do you like sinnin'?

No?

Well, you will before you go We've got lots of gamblin' Oh, and we're tellin' lies You're certainly welcome to hard times Take a look in my eyes Tell me what you see Besides the bright blinking lights Stretched out in front of me I wonder if you'll notice Would you even care If I told you my life just isn't fair?

Welcome to hard times And feelin' low Do you like sinnin'?

No?

Well, you will before you go We've got lots of gamblin' Oh, and we're tellin' lies You're certainly welcome to hard times Yes Hope you're feelin' welcome [ Laughs ] [ Cheering ] To hard times [ Cheers and applause ] [ Playing "Lead Me On" ] Lead me on Darling, lead me on Honey, you know I'm a stranger And I am so all alone But here is my hand Here is my hand Take it darling You know I follow you Let me walk I want to walk right by your side Let your love be my only guide So here is my hand Here is my hand Take it darling You know I follow you You know how it feels You understand What it is to be a stranger In this unfriendly land And here is my hand Here is my hand Take it darling You know I follow you Said, I follow you Yes, I follow you And I follow you Hey, baby I'm-a follow you Lead me on [ Cheers and applause ] All right.

Well, I'm gonna do a song...

This one's about -- Well, I guess Willie Nelson said it best.

This one here is about the wrong side of the Mississippi.

[ Playing "Music City USA" ] I think you think that I got lucky I see it written on your face You say you'd like to fill my shoes How easily you'd take my place But if you'd spare me just a moment Before you go to pick and choose I think I'll ask you just one question How would you like to pay my dues?

I shouldn't have come here in the first place 'Cause folks in here don't like my kind They say they've got a lot of reasons I think I see them on their signs They've got a lot to say In Music City USA I could draw a line from Texas To any place that's on a map I could be in California Then go to Georgia, be right back Up and down the Mississippi Tennessee River past the Shoals There underneath the lights of Broadway I'm in the alley with the ghosts I shouldn't have come here in the first place 'Cause folks in here don't like my kind I bet they've got a lot of reasons In fact, I see them on their signs They've got a lot to say In Music City USA In Music City USA [ Cheers and applause ] [ Playing "In the Night" ] I was dyin' in the dark I been hurtin' in the night I was been losin' to the man Tryin' to make him understand me You know these days get insane Situation goin' grave On my knees in the night Knees in the night Days get insane Situation goin' grave On my knees in the night Knees in the night This whole world is just a mess All I do is wait and guess So I'm out here on that midnight train Standin' out in the rain Just waitin' for my time to come So I wish it'd hurry up I know these days get insane Situation goin' grave On my knees in the night Knees in the night Days get stranger Situation goin' graver On my knees in the night Knees in the night [ Cheering ] In the night, in the night In the dark and lonesome night In the night, in the night In the dark and lonesome night In the night, in the night In the dark and lonesome night In the dark and lonesome Night [ Cheers and applause ] Whoo, doggy.

Wildcats.

Rawr!

[ Chuckles ] [ Playing "The Valley" ] I'm from San Benito, Texas [ Cheering ] Down that dirty, dusty road There was sugarcane and cotton How I used to watch it grow Then we moved up to Dallas I remember I was young I learned about the dollar Looked down the barrel of a gun If you ask me where I'm going I can't tell ya 'cause I don't know But in my mind, I see the valley You should see the way it glows My daddy didn't know me My brother rolled the dice My mama kept on working And my sister paid a price Darkness did surround me Trouble everywhere I turned Till one day, I started walking Everything I've got, I earned If you ask me where I'm going I can't tell ya 'cause I don't know But in my mind, I see the valley You should see the way it glows And now you know my story I bet you got one like it, too May your curse become a blessing There ain't nothing else to do [ Cheers and applause ] It has been an honor to serve you tonight.

We really, really are grateful to each and every one of you.

Here's one I wrote called "Paint It Blue" [ Cheering ] They say there's a price on my head And that I'm better off dead But that sheriff better keep this in mind I'll sure be hard to find I give up so much of me I should probably be charging a fee You say that you don't like me, and I'm wrong Well, I bet you're gonna love the way I'm gone Oh I ain't too concerned with my name 'Cause I know it won't be on my grave But I ain't gonna hang my head down and cry 'Cause I know where I'm going when I die Yes, I do.

The bright lights shining in this city Remind me of the time when she was with me It's the same old feeling, nothing new So, I'm fixing to paint it blue Blue I might be down in Texas after a while Or Louisiana in style But I'll tell you what I'm really 'bout to do I'm fixing to paint it blue Yes, I'm fixing to paint it blue I am, I'm fixing to paint it blue You know I'm fixing to paint it blue Lord, I'm fixing to paint it blue [ Cheers and applause ] Thank ya so much, "Austin City Limits."

My name's Charley Crockett.

That's Charley with an E-Y like Charley Pride.

Crockett with two Ts just like Davy.

Good night.

[ Cheers and applause ] I might be down in Texas after a while Or Louisiana in style But I'll tell you what I'm really 'bout to do I'm fixing to paint it blue Yes, I'm fixing to paint it blue I am, I'm fixing to paint it blue You know I'm fixing to paint it blue Lord, I'm fixing to paint it blue