Austin City Limits

"Austin City Limits" presents a songwriter special with Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, and Jon Randall.

"The Marfa Tapes."

- Waxahachie I can be there by 4 a.m. Lookin' for my long-lost friend That's what you've always been - Waxahachie Sing-along storms never last Bad times, they all pass But for me and you they don't - Dust ain't ever gonna settle Wind's just gonna blow Recorded live from the Moody Theater, it's "Austin City Limits."

Now an intimate hour of songs and friendship with Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram, and Jon Randall.

-Welcome to "Marfa."

- If you ever get time to two-step down to Texas Find yourself down 'round Austin way I'll be waitin' every time with my cowboy hat and wine If you two-step down to Texas and go steppin' out with me Take me down to the Broken Spoke And we'll dance the night away 'Round and 'round, we'll go for broke Till the Lone Star light of day Honey, if we get the blues, we'll look for Stevie Ray If we fall Asleep at the Wheel, well, baby that's okay And if you ever get time to two-step down to Texas Find yourself down 'round Austin way I'll be waitin' every time with my cowboy hat and wine If you two-step down to Texas and go steppin' out with me Mosey down to the Continental or the Carousel Catch last call for alcohol -Last call!

- At the old Lone Star Motel Migas at the old Magnolia, then we'll drive a spell We'll do shady things in Dripping Springs Honey, I don't kiss and tell If you ever get time to two-step down to Texas Find yourself down 'round Austin way I'll be waitin' every time with my cowboy hat and wine If you two-step down to Texas and go steppin' out with me [ Whistling melody ] -Oh, yeah!

Uh-huh!

-Huh!

- Well, if you ever get time to two-step down to Texas Find yourself down 'round Austin way I'll be waitin' every time with my cowboy hat and wine If you two-step down to Texas and go steppin' out with me If you two-step down to Texas and go steppin' out with me -[ Laughs ] -Oww!

-Hey, little lady.

Wanna a little biscuit?

[ Laughs ] -Hi, y'all!

[ Cheers and applause ] [ Laughter ] -"Hi, y'all!"

-Hey, everybody!

[ Cheers and applause ] -Anybody ever got stuck in Amarillo?

-It's okay to admit it.

-We have.

-We've all been there.

- Am I right or Amarillo?

Am I wrong for lovin' you?

Come lay down on my pillow Till the dawn comes breakin' through Am I crazy?

I don't know You just might be, too Am I right or Amarillo?

Am I wrong for lovin' you?

- These truck-stop bars are lonely These highways, they don't quit You might be my one and only - If we keep meetin' like this Am I right or Amarillo?

Am I wrong for lovin' you?

Come lay down on my pillow Till the dawn comes breakin' through Am I crazy?

I don't know You just might be, too Am I right or Amarillo?

Am I wrong for lovin' you?

- It's too late to stop drinkin' Too early to go home There's a flashing "vacancy" sign - Just across the road Am I right or Amarillo?

Am I wrong for lovin' you?

Come lay down on my pillow Till the dawn comes breakin' through Am I crazy?

I don't know You just might be, too Am I right or Amarillo?

Am I wrong for lovin' you?

- My ring is on my keychain Your diamond's in your purse But it won't feel like cheatin' - If nobody gets hurt Am I right or Amarillo?

Am I wrong for lovin' you?

Come lay down on my pillow Till the dawn comes breakin' through Am I crazy?

I don't know You just might be, too Am I right or Amarillo?

Am I wrong for lovin' you?

Am I right or Amarillo?

Am I wrong for lovin' you?

[ Finale plays ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you, guys.

-Whew!

-Man.

-Well, I'm Miranda, this is Jack, and that's Jon.

-Howdy.

-We are so happy to be the first show back at ACL.

This is so freakin' awesome.

[ Cheers and applause ] We, uh -- We are on a journey together on a special project we did that we went and made in Marfa, Texas, and, um it's just -- it's a magical place.

And we're all from Texas, all different parts.

Jon and I are from Central East Texas, and Jack's from Houston, but, you know, when you go out to the West Side, there's something totally different.

There's a whole different magic.

So, we're gonna do songs off the new project tonight.

[ Cheers and applause ] Anyway, thank you in advance for going down this songwriter trail with us tonight.

We hope you have some fun and cry a little and laugh a little and drink a lot.

[ Laughter ] Speaking of drinkin', there's been some men in my life that have driven me to drink a little extra.

-[ Laughter ] -Uh.

Amen?

Anyway, one of those men is the one we wrote this song about.

And the way we work is, you know, we just start talking about our lives, and we meet each other where we are.

And I guess I was on a tangent, and then we got a song out of it, so...

This is one of my favorites.

-You might call it that.

-[Chuckling] Yeah.

This one's called "Ghost."

- I burned your Levi's and your pearl snap shirts Ashes to ashes and dirt to dirt Buried our love in a deep dark hole And now you're just a ghost Hmm-mmm If you're such a poet, write an epitaph You and I both know you ain't comin' back Man, I sure loved you, but I let you go - And now you're just a ghost Now you're just a ghost My spirit's high, so don't you hang around Silver-tongued devil, you can't hold me down Silly boy, only heaven knows That I ain't afraid Of ghosts - I replaced the headboard with a chiseled stone "Here lies the meanest man I've ever known" Go rest in peace with every lie you ever told Honey, now you're just a ghost - Honey, now you're just a ghost My spirit's high, so don't you hang around Silver-tongued devil, you can't hold me down Silly boy, only heaven knows That I ain't afraid Of ghosts - I've got 10,000 angels here to pull me through I've cried the last tear that I'll cry for you You're just a shell of a man that I used to hold Honey, now you're just a ghost - Honey, now you're just a ghost And I ain't afraid Of ghosts [ Cheers and applause ] -I've always had this fascination with water.

And -- [Chuckles] When I was a kid, my mom told me that drowning was a good way to go.

[ Laughter ] [ Scoffs ] Ladies and gentlemen, Peggy Ingram.

[ Laughter ] Um, by the way... it's so good to be here.

[ Cheers and applause ] It's so good to see everybody.

[ Cheers and applause ] So, uh, anyway, back to drowning.

[ Laughter ] There's a -- What I -- From what I hear from what my mother tells me is that there's a few moments, a few minutes when you're in that situation that everything is released.

And for some reason, that -- finding that release has always been important to me, and I think we get real close when we're writing songs, but...

These are the only two people that would ever write a song with me about drowning... and love.

Love till the end.

When the moonlight Hits the water The reflection Hits your eyes I can't take it Any longer And this rope is Pullin' tight - Be my anchor Pull me under In this river Here tonight 'Cause I can't breathe When I'm with you When I'm with you I can fly - When you give in There's a stillness And a comfort That you can find When you give up There's salvation In the sweetest Suicide - Be my anchor Pull me under In this river Here tonight 'Cause I can't breathe When I'm with you When I'm with you I can fly - Be my angel Come and save me Come and take me To the other side [ Finale plays ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you.

-That was beautiful.

-So are you.

-Well, thank you, Jack.

-[ Laughs ] That's an easy one.

-If it gets weird up here, it's because we've all been friends for like over 20 years.

[ Laughs ] And I'll tell you what -- It's crazy because, um, I've -- I've been -- I've grown up watching Jack since I was 15, been going to every club around Texas, following him around.

He's one of my heroes.

And -- And Jon -- the same.

We met -- I don't know -- almost 20 years ago.

And just sings like an angel and is an angel of a personality.

And so, sitting up here with these boys, getting to sing songs we wrote in Marfa, Texas, I can't believe it's happening.

Thank y'all so much for listenin'.

-Thank you, buddy.

-My favorite thing is to write love songs about men with men.

[ Laughter ] -We know 'em better than anybody.

-Well, somebody's got to get to know y'all, 'cause we sure can't.

Anyway... -Oh, 'cause we have such an easy time.

-Anyway, we wrote this song staring at the sunset one day.

We were just looking at the sunset over the desert going down to Marfa and talking about all the people we don't know and the ones we do want to know, and a love song came out of it.

It's called "In His Arms."

- I've seen El Paso when the sky was on fire Lost a night in Jurez a couple of times Danced with a cowboy on a straight tequila high - I wish I was in his arms tonight - I've been a rolling stone, a tumbleweed Lookin' for the right one to come find me But the wrong one always sets me free - And I wish I was in his arms tonight - Is he - Playing in some house band in Dallas?

Is he breaking horses in San Antone?

Is he all alone in the neon light?

Wishin' I was in his arms tonight - Is he - Praying for rain out in West Texas?

Is he lost in the Marfa lights?

Is he out there lookin' for me?

Wishin' I was in his arms tonight I wish I was in his arms tonight Ooh-ooh-ooh [ Finale plays ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank y'all.

-When we pulled up to Marfa, it was 4:00 a.m. the first time we went there.

And we got up to the bunkhouse.

And J.R. says, "Hey, somebody go turn off the front-porch light."

'Cause it was the only light there, and you could see everything in -- in the house.

And we did a round of "odd man out."

-I lost.

-And Miranda lost.

-And so all I heard next was -- She walked up there just... [ Mumbling ] And...she turns off the light.

Then all of a sudden, all you hear is, "Ugh!

Aah!"

-[ Laughter ] -Couldn't see a damn thing.

-And then we looked up, and we understood why Jon had been trying to get us to go to Marfa for all these years, because I'm pretty sure, "The stars at night are big and bright deep in the heart of Texas," was written right underneath that sky.

-Yes.

Absolutely.

Yeah.

-It was beautiful.

-[ Cheers and applause ] -Absolutely.

-But that trip is where we started this love affair with Marfa, and we found ourselves a little songwriting trio over the next six years.

And one of the most magical songs that came from it is -- is "Tin Man," and it was one of those times where we really needed to write it -- all three of us needed to say that.

So we're gonna do our own version of it right now.

A little -- little different version.

-We're gonna make up a version for you here real quick.

-Yeah.

- Well, hey there, Mr. Tin Man You don't know how lucky you are Shouldn't spend your whole life wishin' For something bound to fall apart Every time you're feelin' empty You better thank your lucky stars 'Cause if you ever felt one breakin' You'd never want a heart - Ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh-ooh - Hey there, Mr. Tin Man You don't know how lucky you are I've been on the road that you're on It didn't get me very far You ain't missin' nothin' 'Cause love is so damn hard So take it from me, darlin' You don't want a heart - Ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh-ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh-ooh - Well, hey there, Mr. Tin Man I'm glad we talked this out You can take mine if you want it 'Cause it's in pieces now And, by the way, there, Mr. Tin Man If you don't mind some scars Hey, how 'bout you give me your armor?

And, buddy, you can have my heart - Ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh-ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh-ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh-ooh [ Cheers and applause ] -Let's give Jon Randall a big hand.

He's -- He's carrying a lot of these guitar parts.

-He's doing everything!

-Hell of a guitar player, man.

-Oh, man, thank you.

-Your voice ain't bad, either.

-[ Laughs ] Thank you, guys, so much.

Thanks for having me here.

This is always a dream to get to play this stage, so thanks for being here and enjoying this campfire we're trying to bring to you.

Brought to you by Marfa, Texas.

So much of this record was really -- We wanted to try to capture the moment.

We didn't want to be slick or take these things in the studio and try to be too cool for the room.

We wanted to let y'all hear the dust and the wind and the -- and the cactus and feel all of it with us.

And so we took our buddy Brandon Bell -- He's a Grammy Award-winning engineer.

He took three microphones out there, and he just set them up in front of us, and we just poured a drink and just... -Several drinks.

-Several drinks.

-And then another.

And -- And that's kind of -- that's kind of how that we recorded this, so this is kind of -- This is what it is.

It's not -- It's not made for Vegas.

[ Laughter ] -Well, this is Jon's favorite song on the record, I think.

Isn't it?

Well, it changes.

-It is.

I love this song.

I love this song very much.

-But we -- we -- we all have history in a town called Waxahachie, and -- and a lot of people don't even know how to say it or spell it.

Jack's been spelling it wrong for his whole life.

-The T is silent.

[ Laughter ] -Ain't no "T." Anyway...

Here's a little tune about Waxahachie.

Nobody ever left New Orleans As mad as I was I wrote a lipstick letter on the mirror With a bourbon buzz You were right It got about as bad as it gets I'm not lookin' for a turnaround tempo On a rumble strip - Waxahachie Are you still on 35?

Are you still an all-night drive from Louisiana?

Waxahachie I can be there by 4 a.m. Lookin' for my long-lost friend That's what you've always been - Waxahachie Ooh-ooh-ooh Waxahachie If I could just get down the road a beat It won't be that hard Well, I can run like the devil from the demons In a speedin' car I got enough gasoline - Memories and nicotine - Mm, freedom's overrated Guess I underestimated the truth And you - Waxahachie Are you still on 35?

Are you still an all-night drive from Louisiana?

Waxahachie I can be there by 4 a.m. Lookin' for my long-lost friend That's what you've always been - Waxahachie Waxahachie Waxahachie - Are you still on 35?

Are you still an all-night drive from Louisiana?

Waxahachie It's coming on 4 a.m. I need to be in your arms again - Lookin' for my long-lost friend Waxahachie Ooh-ooh-ooh Waxahachie Mm-mm-mm [ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you.

-Well, we got to talk about her, don't we?

-She's -- She's worth talking about.

-Mm, if she's worth writing about, she's worth talking about.

-Jon always says, if you've ever been on the road, you've met Geraldene, 'cause we wrote a song about this made-up girl.

But is she made up?

Who -- I mean, not really.

-A little bit of truth in everything.

-Yeah.

Anyway, I don't even have to explain it, 'cause once you hear it, you'll know what I'm talking about.

I don't like Geraldene!

[ Laughter ] Hm, I could see you comin' all the way from Amarillo Truck-stop red lips pullin' on some nicotine Shiny like the spokes on a brand-new El Dorado You're trailer-park pretty But you're never gonna be Jolene - Geraldene, Geraldene Why you gotta be so mean?

Don't make me cause a scene, now, Geraldene Geraldene, Geraldene Got 'em all on their knees But you can't take a man from me, now, Geraldene - If I was a man, I'd make you my Dallas Alice I'd put a leftover pawn-shop ring on your left hand You're never gonna be the backstage babe At the Crystal Palace You're too late, baby, I'm the only...in the band -Whoo!

- Geraldene, Geraldene Why you gotta be so mean?

Don't make me cause a scene, now, Geraldene Geraldene, G-G-Geraldene You got 'em all on their knees But you can't take a man from me, now, Geraldene -Oh, yeah, boys.

- Geraldene, Geraldene - Why you gotta be so mean?

Don't make me cause a scene, now, Geraldene Geraldene, G-G-Geraldene You got 'em all on their knees But you can't take a man from me, now, Geraldene - Geraldene - Geraldene - Geraldene Geraldene, G-G-Geraldene Geraldene, G-G-Geraldene [ Song ends ] -[ Laughs ] -Yeah, boy.

[ Cheers and applause ] -This was the very first song we ever wrote.

We didn't know we could write songs together, to be honest.

When we disappeared to Marfa, we just -- I needed to get the hell out of Dodge 'cause I was going through a lot in my life.

It was 2015.

And we went and saw Jack play in Midland.

And then we drove on out, like he said.

And the next morning, we kind of got up, had some coffee, and probably a biscuit or seven.

And, um -- And this was the first song that came out of the whole trio.

I mean, we probably thought we were gonna write some songs.

We brought guitars and tequila, so what else would happen?

But... We just realized, when we wrote this song, that there was something magical -- more than our friendship and more than the place, but us trying to, you know, say some things into the world that we needed to say, so we're real proud of this one, and it started the whole shebang.

It's hard to see the writin' On the wall that I keep fightin' My eyes are closed My fists are clenched Tryin' to find forgiveness Is like breaking into prison Gettin' caught up on a razor-wire fence Always give it one more day Thunder clouds roll away But I already know Dust ain't ever gonna settle - The wind's just gonna blow - I used to make you love me Laugh and want to touch me Now I drink alone And cry at my own jokes Your halo's in the dresser drawer I don't wear my ring no more The kids in time will learn to love us both - We both hate to see it end Skies are gettin' dark again - It's time for me to go - Dust ain't ever gonna settle - The wind's just gonna blow Sing-along storms never last Bad times, they all pass But for me and you they don't - Dust ain't ever gonna settle Wind's just gonna blow [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] -So, we -- It barely ever rains out there.

If anybody's from out in West Texas, you know rain doesn't happen often.

And we happened to see this storm coming in from a hundred miles away -- you could see it forever.

And -- And just something about the beauty of that and when the rain came through and the -- and the smell of the rain happening out there and just the landscape around us -- the cows and the towns and -- and just -- This song kind of became the soundtrack of -- of what this whole experience is for us down there, so... Called "Amazing Grace."

Out in West Texas it hardly ever rains When it does It's amazing grace And you can see the cattle from a million miles away To a cowboy's heart It's amazing grace - And the church bells ring In the little bitty towns And the people come from miles and miles around Just to hear that old piano Feed their faith With the word of God And amazing grace - Watching the sunset Drinkin' whiskey and lemonade And when it falls It's amazing grace She looks like an angel With the moonlight on her face When she smiles It's amazing grace - And the church bells ring In the little bitty towns And the people come from miles and miles around Just to hear that old piano Feed their faith With the word of God And amazing grace And the church bells ring In the little bitty towns And the people come from miles and miles around Just to hear that old piano Feed their faith With the word of God And amazing grace - Out in West Texas It hardly ever rains But when it does It's amazing grace [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you, guys.

[ Applause ] - Yeah, I love it when you wake me up And kiss me till the coffee's cold I love it when you're makin' plans About how we're gonna grow old Yeah, I love it when you laugh real hard I love to hold you when you cry I love it when you get real high Fly around like a firefly - But I don't like it when you walk away I don't like it when you disappear I don't like being away from you I don't like it when you're not here - Yeah, I love it when you say my name I love it when you sing a song I always love to sing along And I always get the words all wrong Yeah, I love it when you say let's go To somewhere we've never been I love you 'cause you love me back Yeah, I love you, you're my friend - But I don't like it when you walk away I don't like it when you disappear I don't like being away from you I don't like it when you're not here Yeah.

- I don't like it when you walk away I don't like it when you disappear I don't like being away from you I don't like it when you're not here - I don't like it when you walk away I don't like it when you disappear I don't like being away from you I don't like it when you're not here [ Song ends ] [ Cheers and applause ] Thank you.

[ Laughter ] [ Coughs ] I should've sent that last one out to my son and my daughter who are here tonight.

[ Cheers and applause ] Here's a song about having a little fun.

The jukebox serenade Sawdust under my Luccheses We're in each other' arms Singin' "Twinkle, Twinkle, Lucky Star" It's only for tonight It's almost closing time Maybe one more dance or two We can't have each other But we'll always have the blues It's not trouble, it's just dancin' Two young lovers' second glances You can't have me I can't have you Guess we'll always have the blues It's only for tonight It's almost closing time Maybe one more dance or two We can't have each other But we'll always have the blues It's only for tonight It's way past closing time Come on, one more dance or two No, we can't have each other But we'll always have the blues No, we can't have each other But we'll always Have the blues [ Finale plays ] [ Cheers and applause ] -Jon Randall, everybody.

Geez!

That was dreamboat!

-Thank you.

Thank you.

I was terrified.

[ Laughter ] -Well, you didn't sound it.

-Here's what you do.

His last name was Flores He came up from Jurez Lookin' for a hell of a time With a blonde seorita And a tall margarita We danced on the tables all night Then I said, "Adis" "Casamigos is takin' me home tonight" [ Cheers and applause ] - 'Cause he don't love me like tequila does And nobody can He don't give me that border-town buzz Like tequila does - Well, I'd sure like to find a cowboy tonight To get me back in the saddle -[ Laughs ] - But the boys around here They drink domestic beer Mm-hmm They're all hat, no cattle [ Applause ] But I won't sleep alone 'Cause my old pal Patrn - Is takin' me home tonight [ Cheers and applause ] Y'all, he don't love me like tequila does And nobody can He don't give me that border-town buzz Like tequila does Come on, J.R.!

Well, I might as well face it I'm always chasin' a kiss With a twist of a lime And when I'm drinkin' doubles I'm nothin' but trouble And trouble's so easy to find So hand me a sombrero 'Cause Jose Cuervo - Is takin' me home Tonight [ Cheers and applause ] Y'all, he don't love me like tequila does Oh, nobody can He don't give me that border-town buzz Like tequila does No, he don't love me like tequila does Mmm, nobody can He don't give me that border-town buzz Like tequila does - No, he don't give me that border-town buzz Like tequila does [ Finale plays ] [ Laughs ] -[ Laughs ] Yeah!

-[ Cheers and applause ] -Cheers, y'all!

[ Cheers and applause ] -Get over here.

-It's bad luck.

You gotta do it.

[ Cheers and applause ] -Thank you.

-Cheers, y'all.

[ Cheers and applause ] - You ain't Missin' nothin' 'Cause love is so damn hard So take it from me, darlin' You don't want a heart - Ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh-ooh Ooh, ooh, ooh Ooh-ooh