James McMurtry & the Heartless Bastards Lights of Cheyenne

[@quinbagwell7515]

One of the best songs ever written. McMurtry may be the most under appreciated song writer ever. This is a masterpiece.

[@ugenson]

Don't think he wrote this one.

[@quinbagwell7515]

@@ugenson yes he wrote it. or more accurately co wrote it with Ronnie Johnson

[@janetwhite7786]

Is he any relation to Larry McMurtry?

[@quinbagwell7515]

@@janetwhite7786 he is Larry's son

[@char2194]

Agreed!

[@richardjohnson3463]

I'm just in the process of discovering this guy, I'm 68 and thought I'd heard all the good stuff but this is a revelation! Thanks for sharing this masterpiece

[@mmiller1188]

In my 30s here and just discovering him! Don't know how I've missed out on his music so long.

[@manufernandez7834]

Soy de Uruguay. De un pequeño país ubicado entre Argentina y Brasil. Descubrí a McMurtry gracias a Stephen king. En la novela under the dome hace referencia a talking at the texaco. Y desde ahi el viaje fue eterno

[@Tokeland9]

Manu, he’s amazing! Glad you found him 👍

[@lukeswain1752]

Believe it or not, I think about Uruguay occasionally. I'm from the US. I've heard Uruguay is a great little country. Much love and respect. ❤

[@ryanmartin5403]

Can't count the number of times I'm listening to his music when the hair on my neck stands up, the chills go through my body. My eyes shoot straight up and the blinking starts. The music is at times just too perfect and I lose it.

[@charlieburttram7961]

James McM is a fantastic writer, indeed................. and thanks for watching and commenting..............!!!!!!

[@mcmurtryfan]

Back in 2002, I was zipping along the highway late at night when this station played a new tune "Valley Road" by McMurtry. I was so amazed by the tune, I went out and bought the album St. Mary Of The Woods. And I haven't stopped listening to James since...

[@nancyrubinstein9269]

St. Mary of the Woods is an amazing album. Of course.

[@dmeech1]

Song for the ages. Observant, insightful, humble, sympathetic, angry.

[@jbdawg4337]

Such a visually emotive song! I love James' songwriting.

[@cityzen2717]

Look off down the highway at the glittering lights Like windshield glass on the shoulder tonight As the diesels come grinding on up from the plains All bunched up like pearls on a string And I guess time don't mean nothin' Not nothin' at all And out on the horizon the broken stars fall Old broken stars they fall down on the land And get mixed together with the lights of Cheyenne Well I've been up all night and I'm down on my back Workin' the counter to take up the slack 'Cause the money tree's light and the whiskey stream's low You ain't worked a week since July You say the gravel pit's hiring After the first But you don't have the nature for that kind of work You might get hired on But you won't make a hand And I'll still be here lookin' at the lights of Cheyenne You stand in the sky with your feet on the ground Never suspectin' a thing But if the sky were to move you might never be found Never be heard from again We go on good behavior when our youngest comes home She comes up from Boulder but she never stays long And that oldest still fights me like she was 18 Stopped in for a 6-pack awhile ago And she's got a cowboy problem And this last one's a sight All dressed up like Gunsmoke for Saturday night And they were off to the bars for lack of a plan Racing the stars to the lights of Cheyenne And you've kept all that meanness inside you so long You'd fight with a fence post if it looked at your wrong Well the post won't hit back, and it won't call the law I look at your right, or I don't look at all Now take a crumpled up soft pack and give it a shake Out by the dumpster on a cigarette break With one eye swelled up from the back of your hand And the other eye fixed on the lights of Cheyenne You stand in the sky with your feet on the ground Never suspectin' a thing But if the sky were to move you might never be found Never be heard from again Now there's antelope grazing in range of my gun Come opening weekend you won't see a one They'll vanish like ghosts 'cause somehow they know But now they're up to the fence in the early dawn And it's warming up nicely for this time of year The creeks are still frozen but the roads are all clear And I don't have it in me to make one more stand Though I never much cared f or the lights of Cheyenne Source: LyricFind Songwriters: James Mc Murtry / Ronnie Johnson

[@bonitastjulienlepauvre6489]

thanks

[@quinbagwell7515]

Edgar Allan Poe never wrote one better, or more profound.

[@BTKYG]

Thanks for the lyrics mate.

[@paulelliott3220]

Beautifully played and sung by James and the guys Stone cold classic Nobody writes like James, he's one of a kind and never ceases to amaze Fantastic

[@charlieburttram7961]

I agree totally, Paul....... he is one of a kind, and just is incredible with this performance....... thanks for watching and commenting.............

[@stevegallagher687]

One of my favorites by James. What a great songwriter.

[@texasplumr]

Love James. Always true to his roots. Now that Guy is gone, he's one of the few left. Thanks for posting this.

[@Bry25able]

What a songsmith this man is, he has written some great songs, I hope he comes back to the UK in 2018 I will see him!!!

[@nightshadedesign]

One of the best American songwriters alive. Sweet Jesus, the man turns a simple, lean phrase.

[@charlieburttram7961]

Ray Shaffer Hey there, Ray, and I totally agree with ya............ He is a master at his craft......... thanks for listening and commenting..................!!!

[@400OTD]

The simple, beautiful, and raw truths that he can string together never fail to amaze me. I've never been to Cheyenne, but I get there every damned time I listen to this masterpiece. James McMurtry is a National Treasure! Thanks for posting this gem Charlie with the wonderful still shots to accompany it ! 400OTD

[@charlieburttram7961]

400OTD ......... I agree, he is a poet with a guitar............. thanks for listening and commenting........!!!

[@wayhip]

Spent many years in WY. Yep, very close to the truth.

[@annemaassen5576]

Lived there 10 years. Coming west from Nebraska, into Wyoming. You come from total darkness over a rise and the lights of Cheyenne are absolutely stunning. It's in the middle of nowhere. Nothing around it for miles and miles.

[@ugenson]

Those stills look nothing of Cheyenne

[@jaymogamy]

My friend and I left Columbus Ohio at 4:30am. That put us in Cheyenne Wyoming at about 9:30pm. That was fifteen years ago, but when I here this song that glowing city nestled in the dark foothills of the Rockies reappears quite clearly still.

[@charlieburttram7961]

Thanks for sharing that memory, jaymogamy, and thanks, too, for listening and commenting............

[@annemaassen5576]

It is stunning, isn't it.

[@lizzard71]

Cheyenne...first place I moved when I left my home town in 1988. Will always be special.

[@justbob1968]

James is an amazing artist. His words ring so true.

[@charlieburttram7961]

I totally agree,........ he is a great talent..... and thanks for watching and commenting.....

[@tomchristopher71]

I stopped counting the multiple times I've listened to Live In Aught Three. He paints very vivid pictures of the real America out here. I don't think he has recorded this song in the studio. I could be wrong but this version is perfect the way it is.

[@charlieburttram7961]

I love this live version of the song, too, Thomas..... and McMurtry is a true poet..... thanks for watching and commenting.....................

[@bluefunkdawg]

Just bought it mp3 as cds out of stock on Amazon.

[@lynnvars2729]

Lived in Rock Springs Wyoming for years. Song hit the nail squarely

[@charlieburttram7961]

Thanks for the insight, Lynn, and thanks for watching and commenting................

[@RolandHulme]

I just came back from Rock Springs. A town full of lovely people, and this song always makes me think of Wyoming.

[@sirris4330]

As always, James McMurtry is as others have said - an american treasure that remains inexplicably buried.

[@charlieburttram7961]

I totally agree, Zach...... and thanks for watching and commenting..........

[@dogbreathjesus]

Christmas Eve afternoon, ham's in the oven, music...perfect.

[@1GUNSQUIRREL]

trucked across the northern tier states in 81-82 ill never forget that time...watertown sd to points west...hwy 212 to i90... two trips aweek

[@alifqadrmuhammad4542]

THIS IS MUSIC 🎶🇺🇸 👍👍🌟🌟🌟 🌟🌟

[@jenniedecker2009]

a fantastic performer and songwriter

[@ralz9351]

Best American songwriter of the past 20 years, very underrated. Thanks for putting this up, my favorite live album of all time. Would love to see the Austin City Limits show from this era, can't find it anywhere.

[@charlieburttram7961]

Glad you enjoyed it, ralz........... and thanks for watching and commenting...........

[@olivei2484]

Make that 30+ years now.

[@alifqadrmuhammad4542]

Live at Aught Eight 👍🇺🇸🌟🌟🌟 🌟 🌟

[@chrisbouchard3332]

Met these boys years ago Rip tony scarbonie

[@MayhawMan]

Poetry at it's finest. Frost and Whit would have been in the bar with a couple of belts in them high fiving each other for a a fine student.

[@charlieburttram7961]

I totally agree, MayhawMan.......... and thanks for listening and commenting...........

[@typacsk]

Heard this one for the first time while I was crossing the Bighorn Basin this morning. Damn...

[@ralphey2112]

"Like windshield glass on the shoulder tonight"

[@charlieburttram7961]

Thanks for watching and replying, ralphey2112......... hope you enjoy the channel...........

[@louisbelfiore945]

She's got a cowboy problem...and this one's a sight

[@jonhelmstadter2870]

Great lyricist

[@TheBigjohn527]

Great tune. Marcia Ball recorded a version, too.

[@PenguinDuber]

Damn I miss the Charlie......................song makes me think - certainly made a differance to many - big time for me!

[@Tokeland9]

Story has been told, by the Master

[@ttmilbr]

Beautiful pictures, beautiful song. Got to see him a few months ago and shook his hand in the merch line. How's that for seeing one of the greats : ) Thanks for posting!

[@charlieburttram7961]

Great story, ttmilbr............ glad you got to see JM live, and got to met him........ thanks for you watching and commenting.............

[@KMAN040]

The money trees light , and the whiskey streams low ...

[@charlieburttram7961]

+Chris kettleman ...... thanks for watching and commenting...... and McMurtry is one talented dude...........

[@patandsandytrierweiler2440]

The pictures in this video, Mc Murtry's description of the location as near the Lincoln Monument ( can't see the lights of either Laramie nor Cheyenne from there) ...makes me wonder if he's ever been to area...not alot of trees.

[@lulam.5844]

anybody know what guitar he’s playing on this?

[@frankvanmeter3408]

no doubt this cat is a master'

[@edanderson9938]

Writes like Dylan, can't think of a better compliment, I'll work on it though!

[@charlie.something]

nice. from ought 3?

[@hottunatony]

wow!

[@charlieburttram7961]

Amen and damn-straight.......... and thanks for watching and commenting.............

[@steveelim]

Here is proof beautiful poetry can come out of mundane lifestyles and language ("out by the dumpster on a cigarette break"). I hesitate to say blue-collar as that is often too easily misconstrued as not politically correct so I won't (pardon my apophasis). If it touches the heart and we can relate to it at a deeply emotional level, I find just one of his lines can sometimes be more meaningful than whole verses from even some Classics.

[@caverscott]

I am listening as the rain falls and at this moment in my life, its perfect

[@seanhickey8425]

Now take a crumpled up soft pack and give it a shake. One of the most descriptive lines in any song ever.

[@wayhip]

Yeah, the antelope always seem to get too close to roads and towns during hunting season. Where it is illegal to shot them :)

[@sarahknott4989]

❤❤❤

[@ph00xy]

People accuse Springsteen of having his finger on the pulse of middle America.

[@donrollings1753]

he's cooler than hell, to use a ray whylie hubbard phrase

[@chuckmeyers5062]

Thanks Charlie! -Chuck M

[@charlieburttram7961]

+Chuck Meyers ..... my pleasure, Chuck...... and thanks for watching and commenting.....!!!!!

[@billblondeau4269]

I think it's time to admit that James McMurtry is the best songwriter working now. Better than Bob Dylan. Better than Neko Case, Jenny Lewis, Steve Earle. Fucking hell he's good.

[@billblondeau4269]

And I say this as someone who LOVES Bob Dylan, Neko Case, Jenny Lewis, Steve Earle. And a lot of others who are as good, or damn near. James McMurtry is something else again.

[@samkniffen6623]

John Gorka and Eef Barzelay are pretty swell, too.

[@adrianreidenbach5681]

Bj0

[@mynameisurmommcnamara5247]

no doubt this man is an exeption superb songwriter