'Texas' by Blake Shelton - Lyrics and Meaning

With nearly two decades as a country superstar under his belt, including nearly 30 No. 1 singles to his credit, it came as quite a shock when Blake Shelton announced that he was leaving his longtime label home of Warner Music Nashville earlier this fall.

Quickly making the jump over to BBR Music Group / BMG Nashville / Wheelhouse Records, which boasts some of the genre's biggest artists right now like Lainey Wilson, Jelly Roll and others, it seemed that a new era was on its way for Shelton and he didn't make us wait too long to get the first taste of it.

His first new release in over two years, the Oklahoma native unveiled his debut single on the new label would be a little ditty named 'Texas.'

A complete break from everything he's released thus far in his career, 'Texas' was a big risk for the decorated entertainer as he croons about an ex and being left in the dust. Yet, it's one that pays off in spades.

Clocking in at less than three minutes, 'Texas' was written by a quartet of talented Nashville songwriters, including Johnny Clawson, Josh Dorr, Kyle Sturrock & Lol Guzman.

Sonically, 'Texas' shows an utterly new and different side to the tenured country artist, opting for a more moody and bass-driven production as opposed to his classic-leaning hits thus far. The moody, also disco-inspired tune, joined by a twangy guitar and a symphony of layered vocals, was produced by Shelton's longtime collaborator Scott Hendricks.

In all reality, the song sounds like something that Morgan Wallen very well could've cut for his upcoming album, underpinning country's recent deviation from the "three chords and the truth" of old and instead embracing other genres and styles within it's offerings.

"She cut me loose and caught herself a somewhere wind
I haven’t heard a word and haven’t seen her since
She disappeared quicker than this double shot of Jim
Because everybody at the bar started askin’

(How’s your girl) She ain’t my girl
(Where’s she been) I ain’t quite sure
Good question, no telling but I’m bettin’"

We find our singer sitting alone in a smokey bar, drinking his sorrows away and coming to terms with the fact that his old love has up and left him.

Seemingly cutting ties and ditching town, he explains that he hasn't heard from her at all since she left and has no idea where she ended up or what's happening in her life.

Fielding questions from curious friends and onlookers at the bar about what happened with him and his old flame, he opines about where she might've run off to and why everything went wrong.

"She’s probably in Texas
Amarillo all I know
George Strait said it
That’s where all them ex’s go
If she ain’t with me out here in Tennessee
Than I don’t know where she’s headed
If I’m guessin’, I reckon
She’s probably in Texas
She’s probably in Texas"

While Shelton's debut, career-defining single, 'Austin' also takes place in Texas, the 2024 song couldn't be more different from the beloved tale of true love.

In 'Texas,' the singer pays tribute to the King of Country Music himself, George Strait, as he name drops his 1987 smash hit, 'All My Ex's Live In Texas' when speculating where his ex has ended up.

Explaining that, after all, that's where all ex's go, he comes to the conclusion that if she isn't with him in good ole Tennessee, then his bet is that she's found her way to the Lone Star State.

"She might be down in Georgia at her mama’s for the week
Could be Carolina, California, something’s telling me
She’s somewhere in the Lonestar state with all the rest
Yeah that one King song knows best"

Continuing to think of possible options and destinations for his free-spirited ex-girlfriend, he considers that perhaps she's taken a trip back home to Georgia. Then again, it could be anywhere on God's green earth, knowing her.

Making another mention to Strait, calling him by his rightful name as "the King," he returns to the most likely option: that she's gone to join all the other ex's in Texas.

"She’s probably in Texas
Amarillo all I know
George Strait said it
That’s where all them ex’s go
If she ain’t with me out here in Tennessee
Than I don’t know where she’s headed
If I’m guessin’, I reckon
She’s probably in Texas
She’s probably in Texas"

As we mentioned, 'Texas' marks the first tune from the decorated country star in over two years, as well as his first at a new label home. With a more or less fresh slate, Shelton used the opportunity to experiment with his music and try out some new things.

“The thing that struck me about ‘Texas’ immediately was how different it sounded for me, and I’m always looking to push myself,” Shelton shares. “I think there’s something really special about this record, and it feels important to me.”

He continues: “This is the perfect opportunity to come back with something so different, and it easily felt like it should be the first single. It’s connected with what I’ve done but moves forward at the same time, and it’s the perfect start to the next chapter of my career.”

She cut me loose and caught herself a somewhere wind
I haven’t heard a word and haven’t seen her since
She disappeared quicker than this double shot of Jim
Because everybody at the bar started askin’

(How’s your girl) She ain’t my girl
(Where’s she been) I ain’t quite sure
Good question, no telling but I’m bettin’

She’s probably in Texas
Amarillo all I know
George Strait said it
That’s where all them ex’s go
If she ain’t with me out here in Tennessee
Than I don’t know where she’s headed
If I’m guessin’, I reckon
She’s probably in Texas
She’s probably in Texas

She might be down in Georgia at her mama’s for the week
Could be Carolina, California, something’s telling me
She’s somewhere in the Lonestar state with all the rest
Yeah that one King song knows best

She’s probably in Texas
Amarillo all I know
George Strait said it
That’s where all them ex’s go
If she ain’t with me out here in Tennessee
Than I don’t know where she’s headed
If I’m guessin’, I reckon
She’s probably in Texas
She’s probably in Texas

(How’s your girl) She ain’t my girl
(Where’s she been) I ain’t quite sure
Good question, no telling but I’m bettin’

She’s probably in Texas
Amarillo all I know
George Strait said it
That’s where all them ex’s go
If she ain’t with me out here in Tennessee
Than I don’t know where she’s headed
If I’m guessin’, I reckon
She’s probably in Texas
She’s probably in Texas

--

For more on Blake Shelton, see below: