James McMurtry // "Levelland" (Live from the Back Pasture)

[@jimsiegert1519]

Jesus Christ… every time I listen to this, it brings me to tears. Thanks James… …. smoke on the water… … and joy to the world… My high school life…

[@marcwhite6596]

Me too. Reminds me of my father so much

[@paulelliott3220]

Wonderful song Brilliant artist Could (and do) listen to James all day

[@garyeckstein4917]

this is the best description of small town America when I grew up

[@enitzberg1]

Great song: James McMurtry sings the words that clearly describes the life of pioneers migrating thru Texas and Oklahoma (Level Land). I had asked myself several times, "Why did the pioneers stop here?" At 17yo I had a job right out of high school working for Teledyne Technologies. I walked for many miles across the Anadarko Basin rolling out cables for “Seismic Oil Discovery.” The research was right on the state line of Oklahoma and Texas near Sayre, Texola and Shamrock. Flat, Windy and many gully washers to climb out of.

[@mikeknowles8017]

"In nine days’ march I reached some plains, so vast that I did not find their end anywhere I went … plains with no more landmarks than as if we had been swallowed up in the sea, where our guides strayed about, because there was not a stone, nor a bit of rising ground, nor a tree, nor a shrub, nor anything to go by …" - Max Crawford, Lords of the Plain, 1997

[@PileOnPileOffPileUpOnThe481]

I get numb listening to his music. Just pure perfection.

[@coachaggie14]

Maybe his best ever the lyrics are spot on west Texas.

[@pault.9842]

One of the greats right here I have seen him in Bozeman and Portland I just love his work!

[@DavidJohnson-pn5lf]

Gets better every time you listen!

[@chapmyers9272]

Agree. And every version a revelation.

[@tonycurkovic751]

Great tune!! Saw him in concert last week - amazing show!!!!

[@thinweasel1]

The cord progressions are fantastic

[@JulieBenningfield]

Been listening to this guy since...199? A long time ago. ♥♥♥

[@larslarsen1444]

I found a old broken wagon wheel in the boondocks . It made me think that was a while ago 😢

[@jillac1]

Yay, one of my favs!

[@bmbmd]

Pretty well sums it up.

[@christinebentz660]

7

[@daniellemalan8832]

McMurtry for president.

[@kent2360]

He don't want to be President.

[@YTSlide]

Nope. Kinky Friedman for president. James can be Sec of Agriculture.

[@Hoodrio]

Genius!

[@kernowpete339]

So good.

[@josephslater204]

Great version of a great song.

[@dunebillyofswanbeach4294]

I never get weary of hearing different takes of this tune. This is the first time I’ve seen James use an Ovation 12 string to play it. At least it looks and sounds like an Ovation.

[@bethwilliams7926]

Sublime.

[@georgeovitt5443]

Maybe the finest lyricist of the Americana era (if that's such a thing). Jason Isbell a close second (see "The Last of My Kind"). My favorite McMurtry song remains "Lights of Cheyenne."

[@tprstanley3172]

Obviously you never met me ... I'm from Levelland .

[@thadnipper9411]

I'm from Levelland, have you met me? Probably not since I stay as far as i can get from Levelland.

[@jasonsgroovemachine]

Ya know, we don't play this song much the same way at all.

[@coachaggie14]

Do want to acknowledge the great Robert Earl Keen wrote the song just think McMurtry does great version brings it to life.

[@coachaggie14]

Stand corrected James did write , makes me like it and him even more

[@bdmoore3704]

Kudos to you for doing the extra research

[@JulieBenningfield]

Nope. Mr. Keen did NOT write this song.

[@WhoaDavid42]

"Contrary to popular belief, Robert Earl Keen did *not* write that last song. I wrote it for my buddy Max Crawford from Floydada, Texas; Floydada didn't fit the meter, so I used Levelland..." /watch?v=iD2z_ceRSf8

[@jeffhodge7333]

I love people who think they know something, but they don't know anything, yet they feel a need to express their ignorance online. Just enjoy the music. Read a real newspaper. Isn't aggie Latin for ignorant? Brings it to life? James gave birth to it. I'd say he brought it to life. Would Republicans be OK with abortion if the doctors used guns? Jeff from Tahoe