Choosin' Texas – English Lyrics

• By: Ella Langley

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the poignant storytelling of Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas," a country anthem that beautifully captures the universal feeling of a love lost. Through its vivid lyrics and classic country sound, you can explore expressions of longing, regret, and resilience. This song is special not only for its relatable narrative of unrequited love but also for its unique backstory, born from a whimsical anecdote shared by Miranda Lambert. Learning the language through "Choosin' Texas" offers a captivating journey into modern country music's emotional depth and lyrical artistry.

[English]

Just when I thought I got him to fall in love with Tennessee

I shoulda known better than to take him back to Abilene

I put him right back into her arms

I wasn't a match for that kinda spark

She's from Texas I can tell by the way

He's two steppin' round the room

And judgin' by the smile that's written on his face

There's nothin' I can to do

It doesn't take a crystal ball to see

A cowboy always finds a way to leave

Drinkin' Jack all by myself

He's choosin' Texas I can tell

Well, I guess he forgot about the smoky mountain rain

Them old Hank tunes the Memphis blues we used sing

He always loved Amarillo By Morning

I shoulda taken that as warning

She's from Texas I can tell by the way

He's two steppin' round the room

And judgin' by the smile that's written on his face

There's nothin' I can to do

It doesn't take a crystal ball to see

A cowboy always finds a way to leave

Drinkin' Jack all by myself

He's choosin' Texas I can tell

When I'm eastbound and down and I can't help but cry

Cause I-40 gets lonelier with every mile

I'll know that his mind wasn't ever gonna change

Cause his heart still belongs to the lone star state

She's from Texas I can tell by the way

He's two steppin' round the room

And judgin' by the smile that's written on his face

There's nothin' I can to do, naw yeah

It doesn't take a crystal ball to see

A cowboy always finds a way to leave

Drinkin' Jack all by myself

He's choosing Texas I can tell, no

Drinkin' Jack all by myself

He's choosin' Texas I can tell

C'mon baby

Ohh yeah

Just when I thought I got him to fall in love with Tennessee

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
choosin' ˈtʃuːzɪŋ A1	verb - to select or decide on something
Texas ˈtɛksəs A1	noun - a state in the southern United States
two-steppin' tuːˈstɛpɪŋ B1	verb - to dance a two-step, a country dance style
cowboy ˈkaʊbɔɪ A1	noun - a man who herds and tends cattle, typically on horseback
crystal ˈkrɪstəl A2	noun - a clear, transparent mineral, especially quartz
ball bɔːl A1	noun - a spherical object used in games
Jack dʒæk A1	noun - a nickname for whiskey, especially Jack Daniel's
smoky ˈsmoʊki A2	adjective - filled with smoke
mountain ˈmaʊntən A1	noun - a large natural elevation of the earth's surface
rain reɪn A1	noun - water falling in drops from the clouds
Hank hæŋk B1	noun - a reference to Hank Williams, a famous country music singer
Memphis ˈmɛmfɪs A1	noun - a city in Tennessee, USA
blues bluːz A2	noun - a type of slow, melancholy music
Amarillo ˌæməˈrɪloʊ A1	noun - a city in Texas, USA
morning ˈmɔːrnɪŋ A1	noun - the early part of the day
warning ˈwɔːrnɪŋ A2	noun - a sign or indication of potential danger
eastbound ˈistˌbaʊnd B1	adjective - traveling toward the east
lonelier ˈloʊnəliər A2	adjective - more lonely
mile maɪl A1	noun - a unit of length equal to 5,280 feet
lone loʊn A1	adjective - being alone

Key Grammar Structures

• Just when I thought I got him to fall in love with Tennessee

  ➔ Past Perfect Continuous implied (thought he *was* falling), Conditional Clause

  ➔ The phrase 'Just when I thought...' introduces a time when the speaker believed something, but that belief was proven wrong. The implied continuous aspect of 'thought' emphasizes the ongoing nature of her belief. The 'with Tennessee' acts as a prepositional phrase modifying 'fall in love'.

• I shoulda known better than to take him back to Abilene

  ➔ Contraction of 'should have', Past Subjunctive (better than to + infinitive)

  ➔ The phrase 'shoulda known' is a colloquial contraction of 'should have known'. The 'better than to' construction expresses regret and indicates that the speaker realizes she made a mistake. The infinitive 'take' shows the action she regrets.

• There's nothin' I can to do

  ➔ Double Negative (nothin'), Modal Verb + 'to' + Infinitive (can to do - incorrect, should be 'can do')

  ➔ The use of 'nothin'' is a colloquial double negative, common in some dialects. The phrase 'can to do' is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is 'can do'.

• It doesn't take a crystal ball to see

  ➔ Idiomatic Expression, Impersonal 'it' construction

  ➔ This is an idiomatic expression meaning it's obvious. The 'it' is impersonal, meaning it doesn't refer to a specific thing. The phrase emphasizes the ease of understanding the situation.