The Unforgettable Tale Behind George Strait‘s “All My Ex’s Live in Texas”
Before destiny brought them together, Lyndia Shafer was a single mother in Pennsylvania, feeling the weight of her circumstances. In a moment of desperation, she stumbled upon the TV show “Austin City Limits” and discovered the voice of songwriter and performer Whitey Shafer. Little did she know that this encounter would shape their lives forever.
Through a letter to a radio DJ and connections with Shafer’s publisher, Lyndia and Whitey connected and eventually met in 1981. They found love and tied the knot the following January, embarking on a journey that would intertwine their lives and their musical talents.
In a stroke of inspiration, Whitey presented Lyndia with a title that would become her breakthrough as a songwriter: “All My Ex’s Live in Texas.“ Despite the potential pitfalls of such a subject, they embraced the fun and co-wrote the song together. Whitey humorously remarked that it felt like he was writing his own biography, albeit with changed names to protect the guilty. The song resonated with personal experiences, as Whitey indeed had exes in Texas.
The genesis of the song came from Whitey’s previous use of the “ex’s/Texas” rhyme, albeit in a different context. Lyndia and Whitey melded their creative forces, drawing inspiration from the Mobil Travel Guide and Whitey’s melody. They weaved in the Texas cities of Abilene, Temple, Galveston, and Texarkana, while Whitey added the Brazos River, which George Strait later modified to the Frio River, adding his personal touch.
When “All My Ex’s Live in Texas” hit the airwaves, its success was inevitable. The song soared to the top spot on Billboard’s country singles chart on July 11, 1987, marking a significant milestone for Whitey and Lyndia Shafer. Their talent and creativity had struck a chord with listeners, propelling George Strait to his first Grammy nomination for “Best Country Vocal Performance, Male.”
As the Shafers embarked on a memorable journey to the Grammy awards ceremony in New York, they relished their nomination for “Best Country Song.” Though they didn’t take home the trophy, their contribution to the country music scene had made an indelible mark.
“All My Ex’s Live in Texas” remains a beloved classic, capturing the essence of love, humor, and personal experiences in a way that only music can. It stands as a testament to the powerful storytelling abilities of the Shafers and the enduring talent of George Strait.
Released: 1987
Album: Ocean Front Property
Artist: George Strait
Genre: Country
Lyrics
All my exes live in Texas
And Texas is a place I’d dearly love to be
But all my exes live in Texas
And that’s why I hang my hat in Tennessee
Rosanna’s down in Texarkana
Wanted me to push her broom
Sweet Eileen’s in Abilene
She forgot I hung the moon
And Allison’s in Galveston
Somehow lost her sanity
And Dimples who now lives in Temple’s
Got the law looking for me
All my exes live in Texas
And Texas is a place I’d dearly love to be
But all my exes live in Texas
And that’s why I hang my hat in Tennessee
I remember that old Frio River
Where I learned to swim
But it brings to mind another time
Where I wore my welcome thin
By transcendental meditation
I go there each night
But I always come back to myself
Long before daylight
All my exes live in Texas
And Texas is a place I’d dearly love to be
But all my exes live in Texas
Therefore I reside in Tennessee
Some folks think I’m hidin’
It’s been rumored that I died
But I’m alive and well in Tennessee
