Name: Terlingua Chili Queen
Duration: P00H03M39S
Description: The story of one gal's epic journey from the skyscrapers of Dallas to a funky West Texas ghost town.

Terlingua Chili Queen

from Together Through the Dark by Slaid Cleaves

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about

The story of one gal's epic journey from the skyscrapers of Dallas to a funky West Texas ghost town.

lyrics

written by Slaid Cleaves, Ron Coy

Sandy worked in Dallas in an office in the sky
Chattin' up the oil men, her hair piled high
Bought designer clothes at the Galleria Mall
Dancin' in Deep Ellum, she was fairest of them all
The huSbands and the houses, they'd come and then they'd go
And when the dust would settle, she'd be right back on her own

If you want to get ahead you got to do the shuck and jive
So every day it's out of bed and onto 35
Putting on mascara in the rearview mirror
In the back seat of her mind there's a little flash of fear
Is this the life she wanted when she was a little girl
Or is there something more out in the great big world?

She started feeling crazy, she started thinking wild
She wondered what would happen if she drove 600 miles
She planned her getaway, she had the motive and the means
That's how a beaten down Dallas gal became the Chili Queen

After twenty-too many years chasing wedding rings
She traded in her Lexus, sold off all her things
Goodbye to fancy dinners, goodbye to therapy
She headed west on 20 with a chili recipe
On the dash a pack of Salems and a half a pint of gin
Not caring if she'd ever see the Metroplex again, no

She drove all through the night toward that little border town
It's time for starting over, no time for backing down
Sunrise in Terlingua on that truck stop caffeine
That's how a beaten down Dallas gal became the Chili Queen

[instrumental]

She found a place in Agua Fria with a kitchen out the back
Bought some pots and pans and she started to relax
Stirrin' and a-tastin' out in the open air
Sunshine on her skin, desert breezes in her hair
She won the chili cook-off, went off to celebrate
Dancin' at La Kiva like she's 'bout to levitate

She kissed a river rat, they started singing drinking songs
Said, I'm here for a good time, I'm not here for long
Now they're headed for the desert in search of mescaline

She planned her getaway, she had the motive and the means
Sunrise in Terlingua on that truck stop caffeine
Dancin' at the Starlight like she was seventeen
That's how a beaten down Dallas gal became the Chili Queen

credits

from Together Through the Dark, released March 3, 2023
performed by Slaid Cleaves, Scrappy Jud Newcomb and Pat Manske

produced by Scrappy Jud Newcomb

recorded by Pat Manske at The Zone, Dripping Springs, Texas

mixed by Chaos Theory with Slaid Cleaves

mastered by Alex McCollough at True East Mastering, Nashville, Tennessee

license

about

Slaid Cleaves Wimberley, Texas

Modern day traveling folk singer. He’s telling your story. Writes and records songs that strike people’s hearts and become a part of their lives.

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